Prostaglandin influence on pulmonary intravascular leukocytic aggregation during cardiopulmonary bypass

A variety of pharmacologic agents have been infused during cardiopulmonary bypass in an attempt to prevent intravascular leukocytic aggregation in the lung. To date corticosteroids have been advocated because of their ability to stabilize lysosomes. We have studied two additional agents, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and dipyramidole (DIPYR) and compared their effects with those of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) and a control group. The drugs were infused into the dog during perfusion and lung biopsies obtained before, during, and at the end of 2 hours of cardiopulmonary bypass using whole blood prime of the Bentley bubble oxygenator. The biopsies were interpreted by a pathologist who was unaware of the modality of treatment. Our results indicate that PGE1 provides more protection from intravascular pulmonary leukocytic aggregation than DIPYR and MPSS.