Abstract
In the operation of obstructive jaundice patients, operative mortality was extremely high compared with patients who were not obstructive jaundice. Evaluation of biliary decompression before operation has been controvertial. In this report, we evaluated the biliary decompression from the point of immunology. Changes in lymphocyte counts, T cell subsets, a mitogen stimulation test of T lymphocytes with Concanavalin A (Con-A) and activation of Kupffer cell activity for free radical production meas uring by the reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate (PM A)were examined in experimental bile duct ligation for 2 weeks and after external biliary drainage in rats. Although T cell subsets did not change significantly, a lymphocyte stimulation was significantly low in bile duct ligation and was recovered to the control level after external biliary drainage. The increase in free radical production reached a statistical significance in bile duct ligation and reduced after external biliary drainage. As a result, we conclude that there is a value of the biliary drainage on immunity.
