[Study of some immune functions in cardiac patients undergoing an extra-corporeal circulation operation (author's transl)].

61 adult patients (36 men, 25 women), with coronary or valvular diseases, operated with extra-corporeal circulation, by the same surgical team, have been investigated for the plasmatic levels of total complement, fractions C4, C3 activator, C3, immunoglobulins G, A and M, for the phagocytic and bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. 50 healthy adults (26 men, 24 women) have been tested as controls. Results have been statistically analyzed. Two experiments have also been performed: extra-corporeal circulation machine has run alone without a patient, and the examinations of blood samples in the machine have been performed before and at the end of the running time. Just at the end of extra-corporeal circulation, a deep and significant falling of globulins (complement and its fractions, immunoglobulins) is observed, which lasts during two days; at the 8th and 15th days after the operation, a significant and important raising of these globulins is noted. It has been demonstrated that the initial falling is not correlated with the hemodilution, but is relevant to a consumption in the machine and in the tissues. Any significant variation in polymorphonuclear leucocytes activity has not been noted, but there are strong individual variations. Importance of humoral abnormalities observed is discussed, regarding to the infectious prophylaxis in cardiac surgery.