[T- and B-lymphocyte systems in heart surgery patients in the early postoperative period].

The number of T- and B-lymphocytes, O cells, the IgA, IgG, IgM content, the lymphocyte transformation in vitro and also the haematological parameters of the white blood were studied in 33 patients with rheumatic heart diseases during the inactive phase of the illness and in 25 operated on patients on the 1st-10th post-operative days. On the 1st-3rd day after the operation marked (3-4-fold) decrease of the absolute number of T- and B-lymphocytes was recorded. The immunological parameters recovered by the 5th-7th days after surgery. On the 10th day they exceed their initial levels. The authors believe it possible to use these data in elaborating the program of immunological control in cardiosurgical patients.