Abstract

Total parenteral nutrition is associated with a relatively high frequency of infections. Infusion of intravenous fat emulsions have been demonstrated to cause impairment of some functions of the white cells. We evaluated the effect of intravenous infusion of at emulsions (Intralipid ® 20%) on the function of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Motility, phagocytic activity, fungicidic activity, oxygen consumption, superoxide generation, ATP-consumption during phagocytosis, and chemotaxis were used as parameters for leucocyte function. Opsonization time was used as parameter for serum dependent activity of the leucocytes. Twenty-four normal persons were at random allocated to two groups of 12 persons receiving either 400 ml 20% Intralipid or 400 ml isotonic saline. There was a significant increase in serum concentration of triglyceride in the group receiving Intralipid ®. The motility of the leucocytes was slightly improved in this group after discontinuation of the infusions, but this change was not significant (0.05<p<0.10). All other parameters were completely unaffected by both the Intralipid ® and the saline infusions. All p- values were above 0.20. The function of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes is the refore not impaired by intravenous fat infusions. Thus, other factors than impairment of neutrophil function, because of infusion of fat emulsions, must be sought to explain the high frequency of infections in patients receiving parenteral nutrition.

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