Effect of surgery on IgG secreting B cells in peripheral blood

IgG was assayed in 27 patients admitted to elective surgery. Blood samples were taken before, 4, 7 and 21 days after operation. IgG was barely detectable before and 4 days after operation, showing a marked increase at the 7th day and disappeared again at 21st day. These events suggested that activated B cells secreting IgG represent a sensitive marker of recent antigenic exposure and showed the positive effect of surgery on antibody secretion