The influence of anaesthetics drugs on immune response: From inflammation to immunosuppression

Introduction The immune system protects us from infections through coordinate action of its components. Patients and animals undergoing anaesthesia and surgery show alterations in the immune response. In this paper, we review the effects of some of the most common anaesthetic drugs on the immune system, in particular the effects within 24 hours after their administration, describing their effects on cells and cytokines of the innate and acquired immune system. Discussion As it is difficult to isolate the effects of anaesthetic drugs in the case of surgery, diverse in vitro studies with human immune cells or in vivo with animal models have been used to study the effect of anaesthetic drugs on the immune system. These studies have demonstrated diverse effects, such as changes in immune cell counts and functionality, and on the secretion patterns of diverse cytokines affecting the inflammatory response in the postoperative period. Conclusion Effects of anaesthetic drugs on the immune system are clinically important because the amount and function of the immune cells, as well as the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines secretion, are related to postoperative infections and tissue injury.