The effect of anaesthesia and total hip replacement on the phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A responses of lymphocytes.

Cell-mediated immunity as a part of the immune host defence mechanisms was studied in 12 patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery. The combined anaesthesia used did not lower the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) responses of lymphocytes in whole blood culture during the first hour of anaesthesia before the beginning of surgery, but a clear decrease occurred after the beginning of the operation. The mitogenic responses started to recover immediately after the operation, but complete recovery was not obtained during the follow-up of 9-14 days.