calca-protein--human and Hypertension--Pulmonary

Aprotinin, a nonspecific serine protease inhibitor, has been primarily used as a haemostatic drug in cardiac surgery with cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB). This study investigated the effect of aprotinin on the post-operative levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and a set of cytokines in patients undergoing pulmonary artery endarterectomy (PEA). We analyzed 60 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing PEA. 30 patients (Group A) were treated with aprotinin (2,00,00 IU prior anesthesia, then 2,00,00 IU in CPB prime and 50,00 IU per hour continuously); a further 30 patients (Group B) received tranexamic Acid (1 g before anesthesia, 1 g after full heparin dose and 2 g in CPB prime). PCT, TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 arterial concentrations were measured from before until 72 hours after surgery. Aprotinin significantly affected early post-PEA plasma PCT. Patients treated with aprotinin (Group A) had lower peak PCT levels compared to patients in Group B (1.52 ng/ml versus 2.18, p=0.024). Postoperative peak values of PCT and IL-6 correlated closely in both groups (r=0.78, r=0.83 respectively). Aprotinin attenuates the post-PEA increase of PCT in the same manner as other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Significant correlation between PCT and IL-6 post-surgery may be indicative of an indirect IL-6-mediated pathway of PCT alteration.

Topics: Aged; Aprotinin; Biomarkers; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Endarterectomy; Female; Hemostatics; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Male; Middle Aged; Protein Precursors; Pulmonary Embolism; Time Factors; Tranexamic Acid; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Up-Regulation

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is an effective and potentially curative treatment for chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The postoperative course after PEA is accompanied by a number of complications, which contribute to the high rate of early postoperative mortality. Markers allowing the early detection of infectious complication during the postoperative period may be of major clinical importance. The aim of the prospective study was to analyse a predictive value of five inflammatory markers to recognise inflammatory complications accompanying PEA before the first clinical signs of infection.. Eighty-two patients with CTEPH, who underwent PEA using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), were included into the study. Procalcitonin (PCT), tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and C-reactive protein arterial concentrations were measured before sternotomy and repeatedly up to 72h after the end of surgery. Haemodynamic parameters, infectious and non-infectious complications were recorded.. Postoperative course was uncomplicated in 59/82 patients (group 1). Fourteen out of 82 patients (group 2) developed an infection in the first 3 days after surgery (bronchopneumonia, n = 9; bacterial sepsis, n = 5). Nine out of 82 patients (group 3) developed non-infectious complications in the same period. PCT and IL-6 were the only significant independent predictors of infection in days 1-3 after PEA. The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve calculated for PCT to predict postoperative infection was 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.92) compared with 0.74 (95% CI: 0.68-0.81) for IL-6. With the cut-off 2.3 ng ml(-1), the test characteristics of PCT were as follows: sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 83%; negative predictive value, 92%; and positive predictive value, 84%.. The increase in PCT and IL-6 may allow patients at increased risk of infection after PEA to be identified, allowing earlier institution of antibiotic treatment. These changes that occur before infection can be detected clinically. This finding may make the daily monitoring of PCT post-PEA useful.

Topics: Aged; Bacterial Infections; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Early Diagnosis; Endarterectomy; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Care; Postoperative Complications; Protein Precursors; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Embolism

Endarterectomy of the pulmonary artery (PEA) is a potential curative treatment method for selected patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The postoperative course after PEA is associated with high rate of early postoperative mortality, which ranges from 5 to 23%. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to assess the time course of procalcitonin (PCT) after uncomplicated PEA in relation to other inflammatory parameters.. 32 patients with CTEPH treated with PEA using cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were included into study. PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and sTNFRI arterial concentrations were measured before/after sternotomy, last DHCA, separation from bypass, and repeatedly to 48 h after sternotomy.. Mean duration of CPB was 338.2 min.; mean circulatory arrest time 39.9 min. The initial decline of PCT, IL-6, and IL-8 was followed by an increase culminated 6-24 h after sternotomy. PCT peak was detected +24 h (1.97 ng/ml, 1.70-2.54). IL-6 culminated after separation from CPB, IL-8 was highest 12h after sternotomy. PCT levels correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.81), CRP (r = 0.72), and sTNFRI (r = 0.58).. Postoperative PCT culmination was delayed in alignment to pro-inflammatory mediators as IL-6 and IL-8. Positive correlation between PCT and IL-6 corresponded with the role of IL-6 in PCT induction in perioperative phase. Plasma PCT estimation extended to a measurement of CRP and IL-6 may become a useful complementary examination in early postoperative period after PEA.

Topics: C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Endarterectomy; Female; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Interleukins; Male; Middle Aged; Protein Precursors; Pulmonary Artery