[The characteristics of the functional activity of cellular immunity factors in relation to the use of general anesthetics from different pharmacological groups in operations for optic nerve neurolysis].

The functional activity of cellular immunity was studied in 26 patients with opticochiasmatic arachnoiditis as a model of autoimmune involvement of the brain after administration of common anesthetics of different pharmacological groups. Injection of ketamine as the induction and basic component of general combined anesthesia leads to reduction of neurosensitization induced by the pathologic process; it is paralleled by the optimal activation of the suppressor component of lymphocytes and a reduction of sensitization to brain antigen. In contrast to ketamine, barbiturates augment neurosensitization and lead to depression of the lymphocyte activity, this confirming the anti-immunopathological effect of barbituric acid derivatives. Ketamine is advisable for patients with various immunopathological states.