title: Effect of methylprednisolone on endotoxemia and complement activation during cardiac surgery.
abstract: The influence of high doses of methylprednisolone on complement activation and endotoxin concentration was investigated in two groups of eight patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Group 1 received methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg, at the induction of anesthesia; group 2 served as the control group. The endotoxin concentrations increased significantly in both groups at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass. During cardiopulmonary bypass, the endotoxin concentrations were significantly higher in the steroid group compared with the control group (p less than 0.01). After completion of surgery, the endotoxin concentrations declined to almost zero within seven days in both groups. Complement activation was significantly reduced in the steroid-treated group during cardiopulmonary bypass compared with the control group (P less than 0.01). The clinical outcome after the first postoperative week was the same in the two groups. It appears that high-dose steroids can reduce complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass, although the clearance of endotoxins may also be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015932:Complement C3c / Q000032:analysis; D015933:Complement C3d / Q000032:analysis; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D015932:Complement C3c; D015933:Complement C3d; D008775:Methylprednisolone