Effects of propofol and Intralipid on immune response and prostaglandin E₂ production

The present study evaluated the effects of propofol and ifs solvent Intralipid on the immune response and in vivo prostaglandin E(2) production in patients during induction of anaesthesia and in healthy volunteers after Intralipid injection. Fifteen female patients (median age 48 years, ASA 1-2) scheduled for uterine dilatation and curettage were randomly assigned to two groups. In group I propofol (median dose 3.1 mg.kg(-1)) and in group 2 thiopentone (median dose 6.0 mg.kg(-1)) were injected intravenously over 60 s. Surgery was started after collection of the last blood sample. In the second part of this study, Intralipid 10% 0.3 ml.kg(-1) was injected intravenously in eight healthy volunteers (four women and four men, median rage 32 yeats) over 60 s. Plasma bicyclo-PGE(2) concentrations ina eased during anaesthesia induction in both anaesthetic groups (p < 0.01). By contrast, no changes were seen in plasma bicyclo-PGE(2) concentrations after Intralipid injection in volunteers. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens did not change during anaesthesia induction in patients. In volunteers, Intralipid injection caused a slight increase in T-cell percentages (p < 0.01) and unstimulated lymphocyte proliferative responses (p < 0.05), but it did not affect other lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin production. Intralipid and propofol were not found to be immunosuppressive at clinical doses used during anaesthesia induction.