Effects of dexamethasone therapy on serum immunoglobulin levels and peripheral cell counts in women undergoing conservative benign gynecologic surgery

Abstract

Twenty women undergoing conservative gynecologic surgery were treated perioperatively with high-dose dexamethasone (DEX) for 72 hours. Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, IgA) and peripheral cell counts, including lymphocyte subpopulations, were measured in each patient during the immediate preoperative and postoperative periods as well as 5 to 8 weeks later. These results were compared with the levels of a control population of 16 women undergoing conservative, non-pregnancy-related gynecologic surgery for benign conditions. There was a decrease in the level of all serum immunoglobulins measured in the immediate postoperative period in both groups, with a greater statistical decrease in the control group (P less than 0.001). statistically significant transient alterations in the peripheral cell counts occurred in the DEX group, as compared with the control group (P less than 0.001). The use of DEX was not associated with any postoperative infectious morbidity.