Parenteral fat emulsions and immune adherence. The effects of triglycerides on red cell and neutrophil immune adherence in vitro and in vivo.

Parenteral fat emulsions may not only exert nutritional effects but may also affect immune adherence phenomena and red cell morphology. Red cell immune adherence (RCIA) was augmented in vitro by 0.05% to 0.1% Intralipid. Similar augmentation of RCIA was observed by peanut oil, corn oil, half-and-half cream, paraffin oil, and human low-density lipoprotein fractions. Neutrophil immune adherence was augmented in vitro by 0.2% to 1.5% of Intralipid. The effects of fat emulsions in vivo were studied in ten patients who received intralipid for nutritional purposes. Red cell immune adherence was augmented in five of ten patients and inhibited in four of ten patients. Neutrophil immune adherence was augmented in two of ten patients. Cytotoxic red cell transformations were evident in five of ten patients. Depression of RCIA in four of five patients was associated with cytotoxic red cell transformations.