Objective: To study the enhancing effect of cefodizime on cellular immunity of patients with lung cancer.
Methods: The parameters of cellular immunity in blood and pulmonary alveoli were investigated in 45 patients with lung cancer complicated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and 10 non-cancer patients with LRTI. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reaction of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), the percentage of natural killer (NK) cells, and that of CD4+ cells, ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood, OD value of alveolar macrophages phagocyting neutral red, and IL-1 beta (ng/L) in broncho-alveolar lavage flind (BALF) were determined.
Results: The parameters examined in cancer patients with LRTI were significantly improved after cefodizime treatment, approaching to those seen in non-cancer patients with LRTI. The therapeutic results were better in patients treated with cifodizime than in patients treated with ceftriaxonum.
Conclusion: Cefodizime is a better choice of antibiotic for the treatment of lung cancer complicated with lower respiratory tract infection. Its enhancing effect on systemic and local immune functions plays a role.