Effects of dexmedetomidine on cellular immunity of perioperative period in children with brain neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on cellular immunity during the perioperative period in children with brain neoplasms. METHODS Forty children with brain neoplasms scheduled for selective operation were recruited and divided randomly into two groups. The Dex group was given a loading dose of 1 μg*kg(-1) Dex 15 minutes before anesthesia induction followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 μg × kg(-1) × h(-1) Dex. Patients in control group received a same volume of normal saline for a same time period. Venous blood was collected before anesthesia (T0), 1 h after operation started (T1), immediately after operation ended (T2), 1 day after operation (T3) and 3 days after operation (T4), respectively. RESULTS CD3 (+), CD4 (+), CD4 (+)/CD8 (+), NK and B cells at T1-T3 decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups compared with those at T0, while the decrease of CD3 (+), CD4 (+), CD4 (+)/CD8 (+) and NK cells at T1-T3 and B cells at T1-T2 in Dex group was significantly less than the control group (P < 0.05). All values at T4 recovered to the level before anesthesia in both groups. CONCLUSION Dex given by a continuous intravenous infusion during general anesthesia may effectively inhibit the stress responses and reduce the inhibition of cellular immunity in children with brain neoplasms during the perioperative period.