ABSTRACT
The effect of sepsis on the host resistance of 34 colorectal cancer patients with normal preoperative immune reactivity was studied. A significant change (p less than 0.01) was found in the IgG level of the septic patients (n = 13) when comparing their values with those of the non-septic patients (n = 21), on the third and 7th days postoperatively. There was no appreciable change in the IgA and IgM levels. The E rosette formation and the blast transformation values of the patients showed a marked decrease on the 7th day postoperatively. In the non-septic patients the normal initial values reappeared on the 10th postoperative day, while in the septic cases they significantly decreased as compared to both their own values and to those of the non-septic patients assessed during the same period (p less than 0.05). The possible factors serving for the prevention of decrease in the resistance of the host organism, are discussed.
