[The effects of a leukocyte removal filter during cold blood cardioplegia]

During myocardial ischemia neutrophils and platelets exert negative effects on the myocardium. We used a leukocyte removal filter during cardioplegia and investigated it's effect on myocardial damage during reperfusion. Plasma levels of the granulocyte components, the platelet components, and cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) were evaluated in 14 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Blood samples were drawn directly from the coronary sinus before aortic cross clamping and 1, 5, and 15 minutes after unclamping. The group which had the filter in the cardioplegic route to eliminate the neutrophils and platelets showed better results than the group without the filter on cardiac enzyme and lipid peroxidation (LPO). In conclusion the application of the filter during cold blood cardioplegia effectively on enzymatically reduces myocardial damage during reperfusion.