EFFECT OF FRESH FROZEN PLASMA ON IMMUNOLOGICAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS AFTER HEPATECTOMY FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

The effects of administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to posthepatectomy patients were studied in terms of immunological function. The subjects were 10 patients undergoing almost same degree of hepatectomy without blood transfusion. Five patients of them received FFP after hepatectomy (FFP group) and another 5 patients, albumin (Non-FFP group), and the both groups were compared for changes in immunological function for 14 postoperative days. 1) Humoral immunity: Plasma fibronectin value did not show marked decrease in both groups, but slightly decreased postoperatively in Non-FFP group. CH50 value showed no particular change postoperatively in both groups and there was no difference between two groups. 2) Cellular immunity: PHA blastogenesis in Non-FFP group tended to increase postoperatively. On the other hand, PHA blastogenesis in FFP group tended to decrease postoperatively. There was marked difference between two groups. CD4/CD8 radio in Non-FFP group was slightly higher than that in FFP group. From these results, it is suggested that FFP transfusion after hepatectomy may induce immunosuppression especially on the cellular immunity. Careful attitude would be essencial for posthepatectomy admininstration of FFP.