[Immunglobulin levels and alterations of the lymphocyte function after extracorporal circulation and massive blood transfusion (author's transl)].

Cardiovascular operations are connected with an increased risk of infection. Postoperatively there happened a temporary fall of all immunglobulin levels. Concerning the cellular immunity, we found an impressive decrease of the transformation of the lymphocytes in the presence of polyclonal mitogens which normalises only partially after the eighth day. These results refer to a complex alteration of the immunological apparatus, imposing as a temporary immundeficiency, and could contribute to an elucidation of the increased risk of infections.