title: Effects of preservative-free heparin on plasma histamine concentration and on hemodynamics in patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery.
abstract: Several reports, dealing with typical cardiovascular reactions immediately after injection of heparin during cardiac surgery, have been presented. A possible reason for these reactions is a short-lasting elevation of plasma histamine concentration following heparin injection. As most types of heparin contain antibacterial preservatives such as benzyl alcohol, which can cause adverse reactions, both substances, heparin itself and the preservative, can theoretically be responsible for this reaction. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to measure the effects of preservative-free heparin on plasma-histamine levels and on hemodynamic parameters. It became evident that preservative-free heparin also entails characteristical hemodynamic effects, such as a decrease in arterial mean pressure and peripheral vascular resistance as well as an increase in cardiac output. A significant increase in plasma-histamine concentration could be shown 20-120 seconds after injection of heparin. We conclude that benzyl alcohol is not the major reason for the hemodynamic effects and elevation of plasma-histamine concentration, following heparin injection, but we cannot exclude that benzyl alcohol does in fact play a minor role. The results of this study suggest that the cardiovascular reactions and the elevation of plasma histamine concentration following heparin injection are heparin-specific phenomena.
authors: Institut für Anaesthesiologie am Deutschen Herzzentrum Berlin.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Adt
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Reimann
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Schmucker
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kuppe
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Weinhold
mesh_terms: D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D010592:Pharmaceutic Aids; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D006632:Histamine; D006493:Heparin; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol