Humoral changes in shock induced by cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade was induced in dogs by the infusion of saline into the pericardial cavity. The mean arterial pressure dropped to approximately one-third and the cardiac output to one-fourth of the control level. This was accompanied by the release of vasoactive humoral mediators. Among the vasoconstrictor mediators measured in the plasma, the greatest rise during early tamponade occurred in vasopressin concentrations. Considerable elevations of epinephrine and nonrepinephrine concentrations and plasma renin activity were also demonstrated, these mediators reaching their maximum levels in late tamponade. This study for the first time demonstrates significant rises in plasma thromboxane B2 and histamine levels in cardiac tamponade. The histamine level elevation was greater in the portal venous blood than in the arterial blood. It is suggested that histamine may play a counterregulatory role in cardiac tamponade by attenuating excessive vasoconstriction caused by the activation of various vasoconstrictor systems.