Prostanoid inhibition and group B hemolytic streptococci (GBS) induced neutropenia in newborn piglets

GBS (Group B Hemolytic Streptococci) cause pulmonary hypertension with associated neutropenia. We investigated whether there is a correlation between the neutropenia of sepsis and GBS-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, through study of the effects of inhibiting pulmonary vasoconstriction on the neutropenia of GBS in newborn piglets. Fifteen piglets were infused with GBS. After one hour, animals were given either a thromboxane inhibitor (DAZ), a combined cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C, or placebo. With GBS infusion, WBC and PMN counts dropped steadily, from similar baselines, to 2250 +/- 570, 3300 +/- 500 and 5400 +/- 1100 cells/mm3 respectively (p less than 0.05; DAZ and BW vs. placebo). PMN's dropped similarly to 710 +/- 320, 2390 + 1240 and 3130 +/- 1050 cells/mm3 respectively (p less than 0.05; DAZ vs. BW and placebo). The drop in WBC's predominantly resulted from proportional decreases in PMN's (DAZ: r = 0.98; BW: r = 0.88; placebo r = 0.93). Compared to GBS alone, DAZ reduced pulmonary vasoconstriction, but exacerbated the granulocytopenia. BW755C similarly reduced pulmonary hypertension: however, it ameliorated the exacerbation of GBS induced neutropenia described above. These data imply that there is no direct correlation between GBS induced granulocytopenia and pulmonary hypertension.