Anergy in jaundiced patients

Abstract

Abstract A prospective study of delayed hypersensitivity was carried out in jaundiced patients. One hundred and nineteen subjects were studied. Fifty-nine were controls and sixty were patients with pancreatobiliary pathology and biliary tract obstruction. A Multitest technique was used to evaluate the delayed hypersensitivity response, classifying the subject into one of three groups: immunocompetent, relatively anergic and anergic. In the control group, 76 per cent of the subjects were immunocompetent as opposed to 17 per cent of the patients (P<0.001). Ten per cent of the control subjects and fifty-five per cent of the patients presented anergy (P<0.001). Amongst the patients no difference could be found in the index of anergy between malignant or benign pathology. A greater incidence of postoperative septic complications in anergic and relatively anergic patients was found. Our study indicates a relationship between jaundice and anergy.