Change and significance of T-cell subsets and TNF-α in patients with advanced malignant obstructive jaundice treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary external and internal drainage

The aim of this article was to study the influence of immunity function of advanced malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary external and internal drainage. Ninety-six cases of MOJ were divided into two groups according to the different ways of biliary drainage. Fifty-two external drainage tubes were placed in 41 cases of percutaneous transhepatic biliary external drainage group and 66 metal stents were placed in 55 cases of percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal drainage group. Liver function, serum TNF-α and cellular function were examined one day before operation and one week after operation and liver function was re-examined two weeks after operation, in order to observe the change and analyze the association among them and compare with the control group. All patients’ conditions were improved after operation. In the percutaneous transhepatic biliary external and internal drainage groups, the total level of bilirubin decreased from (343.54±105.56) μmol/L and (321.19±110.50) μmol/L to (290.56±103.46) μmol/L and (283.72±104.95) μmol/L after operation respectively, which were significantly lower than pre-operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of all patients one week after operation was significantly lower than that before operation. TNF-α in percutaneous transhepatic biliary external and internal groups decreased from (108.58±19.95) pg/mL, (109.98±16.24) pg/mL of pre-operation to (104.32±19.59) pg/mL, (83.92±13.43) pg/mL of post-operation respectively, there was notable improvement (P<0.01) in internal drainage group after operation. Patients’ serum CD4, CD3 and CD4/CD8 were notably increased, but CD8 was notably decreased (P<0.05). There was no difference in external drainage group (P>0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups. Serum TNF-α and ALT had positive correlation. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal or external drainage was an effective and important method to treat MOJ. Patients’ immune function was weak when they suffered MOJ, but body’s cellular immune function can be notably improved after internal biliary drainage.