Endocrine and immune effects of dexamethasone in unilateral total knee replacement
Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Abstract
The effect of acute pre-surgery dexamethasone treatment on the inflammatory immune and endocrine responses to orthopaedic surgery was investigated. Whole blood samples were obtained before and 5 days after surgery for immune analysis, and serum was obtained before and 6 h, 3 days and 5 days after surgery for endocrine assessment. Dexamethasone did not affect the post-surgery granulocyte
response, but inhibited the increase in monocyte count (an average increase of 38.5% was seen in the control group). Peak C-reactive protein concentration (3 days after surgery) was 51.4% lower in the
dexamethasone group than in the control group. Dexamethasone had a major effect on cortisol concentrations and the cortisol:testosterone and cortisol: dehydroepiandrosterone ratios, but no
effect on anabolic hormone concentrations. In conclusion, acute pre-surgery dexamethasone reatment may have beneficial effects in the post-surgery period, by limiting the extent of systemic inflammation and the cortisol response.
Description
CITATION: Smith, C., Erasmus, P. J. & Myburgh, K. H. 2006. Endocrine and immune effects of dexamethasone in unilateral total knee replacement. Journal of International Medical Research, 34(6):603-11, doi:10.1177/147323000603400605.
The original publication is available at http://journals.sagepub.com
The original publication is available at http://journals.sagepub.com
Keywords
Dexamethasone
Citation
Smith, C., Erasmus, P. J. & Myburgh, K. H. 2006. Endocrine and immune effects of dexamethasone in unilateral total knee replacement. Journal of International Medical Research, 34(6):603-11, doi:10.1177/147323000603400605