Abstract
Nosocomial infections are still a problem in intensive care medicine in general, and in neurosurgical patients with brain lesions in particular [4]. A variety of external factors facilitate germ access into the body, challenging host defense mechanisms which in turn are subject to immunosuppressive influences themselves. Focusing on brain tumor patients, three factors are suspected to cause immunosuppression: the tumor itself, releasing cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β or prostaglandin E [1], the operative procedure and its concomitants [3, 9], and adjuvant corticosteroid treatment [6, 10]. In a prospective observational clinical trial we addressed the question of interaction of these factors and looked for the clinical relevance of immunosuppression regarding nosocomial infections of the lower respiratory tract.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Black KL, Chen K, Becker DP et al. (1992) Inflammatory leukocytes associated with increased immunosuppression by glioblastoma. J Neurosurg 77:120–126
Böyum A (1968) Separation of leukocytes from blood and bone marrow. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 21, [Suppl 97]:31
Cullen BF, van Belle G (1975) Lymphocyte transformation and changes in leukocyte count: effects of anesthesia and operation. Anesthesiology 43:563–569
Dauch WA, Landau G, Krex D (1989) Prognostic factors for lower respiratory tract infections after brain-tumor surgery. J Neurosurg 70:862–868
DeMaria EJ, Reichman W, Kenney PR et al. (1985) Septic complications of corticosteroid administration after central nervous system trauma. Ann Surg 202:248–252
Fauci AS, Dale DC, Balow JE (1976) Glucocorticosteroid therapy: mechanisms of action and clinical considerations. Ann Intern Med 84:304–315
Hekim N, Sayin E, Demirkaya E et al. (1981) Serum IgM levels as an index of malignancy in brain tumor patients. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 59:227–230
Saunders AM, Chang CH (1986) A new immune monitoring system for the determination of lymphoid cell subsets. Ann NY Acad Sci 468:128–143
Seeldrayers PA, Hoyle NR, Thomas DGT (1984) Pre- and post-operative changes in serum immunoglobulin level in neurosurgical patients. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 70:269–274
Weston WL, Mandel MJ, Yeckley JA et al. (1973) Mechanism of Cortisol inhibition of adaptive transfer of tuberculin sensitivity. J Lab Clin Med 82:366–371
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Dauch, W.A., Krex, D., Zeithammer, B., Heymanns, J. (1994). The Immunological Status of Brain Tumor Patients. In: Bauer, B.L., Brock, M., Klinger, M. (eds) Cerebellar Infarct. Midline Tumors. Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Neurosurgery (MIEN). Advances in Neurosurgery, vol 22. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78801-7_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78801-7_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57668-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78801-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive