AIM: This study aims to evaluate how analgesia-sedation causes alterations of HLA-DR and cytokines (IL-10 and IL-6) in patients undergoing cerebral angiography for several cerebral vascular diseases.

MATERIAL and METHODS: This study includes 41 males who underwent cerebral angiography. The study sample was divided into two: Group I had 7 patients who did not receive and group II had 34 patients who received analgesia-sedation before cerebral angiography. A venous blood sample was collected before and after cerebral angiography.

RESULTS: Analgesia-sedation caused significant increase CD4+ and CD19 T lymphocytes (p < 0.001) but group I showed significant increase in CD40, CD154, and MHC-II levels (p < 0.001) after cerebral angiography.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that the effects of fentanyl and midazolam on the immune response are the reflection of the effects by the monocyte, mHLA-DR expression. In the future, depending on the immunological status of the patients, different anesthetic applications including the new anesthetic agents that will be able to decrease immune system suppression will be required.