Evidence of a progressive degranulation of basophil in subjects operated on without adverse reaction

We have studied the effect of surgery under general anaesthesia on whole blood histamine (WBH) and on basophil morphology in patients operated on without adverse reaction. In 10 patients administered a muscle relaxant and other anaesthetic drugs, WBH decreased significantly the day after surgery and returned to normal within 5 days. Basophils were examined after Percoll gradient concentration: after surgery, the granules were paler and located at the periphery of the cell in a great number of cell. Twentyfour hours later, the number of basophils was reduced and they often did not stain. The morphology returned to normal within 5 days. The variations of WBH were significantly related to the variations of the staining intensity and inversely related to the percent of basophils with peripheral granules. These findings indicate that surgery and/or general anaesthesia leads to a progressive release of mediators by basophils.