Effect of deferoxamine on late deaths following CPR in rats

The iron-chelating agent deferoxamine was studied in an animal model as postresuscitation therapy to prevent late deaths and brain damage following total circulatory arrest and resuscitation. Cardiorespiratory arrest was induced by injection of cold, 1% KCl into the left ventricles of ketamine-anesthetized rats pretreated with succinylcholine, and by discontinuation of positive pressure ventilation. CPR was begun after six minutes, and animals with return of spontaneous circulation were entered into the study. Within five minutes after return of spontaneous circulation, treated animals received deferoxamine (50 mg/kg, IV). At ten days, 16 of 25 (64%) of treated animals had survived without neurologic deficit, compared to nine of 25 (36%) of controls (chi square = 3.92, P less than .05). Chelation of intracellular iron by deferoxamine may have prevented free-radical-mediated reactions that led to late deaths in control animals.