Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and endothelin-1 in experimental fat embolism

In order to understand the role of vasoactive peptides in fat embolism, arterial plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and endothelin-1 concentrations were investigated in an experimental study. Nine anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs received an intracaval infusion of allogeneic bone marrow suspension at a dose of 100 mg/kg (fat embolism group); 9 control pigs received saline. The observation period was 5 h. In the fat embolism group, cardiac index and heart rate decreased within 30 min, whereas mean arterial pressure remained stationary. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure rose transiently and central venous pressure rose slightly in time, while mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary shunt increased immediately and persistently after the bone marrow suspension infusion. Simultaneously, arterial oxygen tension and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation decreased markedly. Arterial plasma ANP and endothelin-1 concentrations remained stable in the fat embolism animals, whereas in the controls ANP and endothelin-1 levels decreased at 3 and 5 h. Arterial epinephrine concentrations were stable in animals receiving bone marrow suspension, while in the controls arterial epinephrine concentrations decreased towards the end of the experiment. Arterial norepinephrine concentrations remained unchanged in both groups. To conclude, impaired pulmonary function and consequent systemic hypoxemia distinguish the present fat embolism model. Unchanged arterial ANP and endothelin-1 concentrations in the fat embolism group suggest that these circulating vasoactive hormones have a minor impact on the pathogenesis of the current experimental fat embolism.