[Reduction of neutrophil activation by prostaglandin E1 in open heart surgery]

This study was designed to demonstrate the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on neutrophil activation in open heart surgery. Twenty adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for various cardiac operations were divided into 2 groups. PGE1 group consisted of 10 patients (7 males and 3 females) and the control group consisted of 10 patients (6 males and 4 females). In PGE1 group patients, 20-50 ng/kg/min of PGE1 was administered intravenously from the induction of anesthesia to the completion of CPB. Blood samples were taken before, during, after CPB, and in the morning of the first postoperative day. Differential counts of white blood cells, plasma neutrophil elastase (PNEL) activity, serum complements activity (C3a, CH50) and superoxide production of neutrophils were measured. Superoxide production by isolated neutrophils was evaluated utilizing luminol dependent chemiluminescence. After the initiation of CPB complements were activated markedly, and PNEL activity increased significantly in both groups. Although after CPB PNEL activity turned to decrease, it was still significantly higher on the first postoperative day than the preoperative value. There were no significant differences between two groups as for complements activation and PNEL activity. The total number of white blood cells unchanged during CPB and neutrophilia appeared after CPB, but no significant difference between two groups. Superoxide production of neutrophils relatively decreased during CPB and significantly increased after CPB in the control group. However, in PGE1 group superoxide production was reduced after CPB, especially on the first postoperative day. These results showed that PGE1 reduced neutrophil-mediated superoxide production in open heart surgery. In conclusions, PGE1 is useful agent to reduce the hazardous effects of neutrophils after CPB.