Renal cytokine and histopathologic changes following acutely increased intra-abdominal pressure: an animal study

The reason for acute renal failure (ARF) in abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is thought to be due to the increase in renal venous pressure. In this study, the changes in plasma and renal tissue cytokine levels and histopathologic changes in renal tubular and glomerular cells were evaluated and compared in a model of acute elevation in abdominal tension with different pressures.

Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups: Sham-operated rats and rats in Groups 1 and 2, in which 20 and 30 mmHg of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was applied for 60 minutes, respectively. Left kidneys of the animals and intracardiac blood samples were taken at the end of the procedures. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were investigated in plasma and renal tissue samples. Renal tissues were also evaluated for histopathologic changes.

Renal tissue and plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were found to be significantly increased when the sham-operated group was compared to the study groups (p<0.05). Renal tissue changes showed that the total histopathologic scores were significantly increased in study groups compared to the sham-operated group (p<0.05); tubular changes were more prominent than glomerular changes.

Abdominal tension linearly can cause renal tubular histopathologic changes. Cytokines may play a role in ARF due to ACS.