Anti-inflammatory effects of 17beta-estradiol pretreatment in men after coronary artery surgery

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and hemodynamic effects of 17beta-estradiol in men undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Prospective, randomized, controlled.

Operating room and intensive care unit in a university hospital.

Twenty-one men undergoing primary, elective CABG surgery.

17beta-estradiol, 2mg, was given orally twice in 14 hours before the operation.

Leukocyte counts, plasma myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured perioperatively. Leukocyte counts were lower in the 17beta-estradiol group than in controls at 6 hours (11.4 +/- 2.0 hours v 15.5 +/- 4.7 hours x 10(9)/L) and 20 hours (11.6 +/- 1.9 hours v 13.6 +/- 2.5 hours x 10(9)/L) after reperfusion (p = 0.03). The release of myeloperoxidase was lower in the 17beta-estradiol group than in controls (5 minutes; 634.4 +/- 213.1 microg/mL v 773.1 +/- 209.3 microg/mL; 4 hours, 305.0 +/- 108.0 microg/mL v 441.3 +/- 191.6 microg/mL; p = 0.02). Systemic vascular resistance index was lower just after cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardiac index was higher postoperatively in the 17beta-estradiol group as compared with controls.

Pretreatment with 17beta-estradiol can limit leukocyte activation in men after CABG surgery.