[A clinical study of respiratory complication after cardiopulmonary bypass, with special reference to complement...

Complement activation and it's influence on lung injury were studied in 20 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Anaphylatoxins increased remarkably to 3130 +/- 1770 ng/ml in C3a, 2480 +/- 2530 ng/ml in C4a and granulocytes were significantly fewer in left atrium (LA) than right atrium (RA) during CPB. Granulocyte elastase (GEL) was significantly higher in LA than RA at the time of reperfusion. Postoperative respiratory index was well correlated with C3a and GEL. We concluded that lung injury after CBP was caused by anaphylatoxin which aggregated granulocyte in pulmonary vasculature and released GEL during CPB, and anaphylatoxin was produced not only by using CBP but in patient's lung.