Consumption of mannan-binding lectin during abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair are exposed to an ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is in part mediated by complement activation. We investigated the role of the novel lectin pathway of complement during IRI in patients undergoing AAA repair.

Patients undergoing elective open infrarenal AAA repair had systemic blood samples taken at induction of anaesthesia, prior to aortic clamping, prior to aortic declamping and at reperfusion. Control patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were also included. Plasma was assayed for levels of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) using ELISA techniques. Consumption of plasma MBL was used as a measure of lectin pathway activation.

Twenty-three patients undergoing AAA repair and eight control patients were recruited. No lectin pathway activation could be demonstrated in the control patients. AAA patients experienced a mean decrease in plasma MBL levels of 41% representing significant lectin pathway activation (p = 0.003).

Consumption of MBL occurs during AAA repair, suggesting an important role for the lectin pathway in IRI. Specific transient inhibition of lectin pathway activity could be of significant therapeutic value in patients undergoing open surgical AAA repair.