title: Improvement of cardiac function by allopurinol in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
abstract: Allopurinol reduces formation of cytotoxic free radicals during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in animals. To evaluate the effect of allopurinol on cardiac performance and metabolism after coronary bypass in humans, we divided 33 patients into two groups: 15 patients (controls) received no allopurinol and 18 patients received 200 mg allopurinol intravenously (i.v.) 1 h preoperatively. Hemodynamic measurements were made with a triple-lumen thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 30 min after completion of CPB and 6 h later in the intensive care unit (ICU). A catheter placed into the coronary sinus was used for blood sampling for measurement of lactate and creatine phosphokinase MB. Peripheral blood was obtained for measurement of xanthine oxidase activity (XO), uric acid, and thiol groups. A myocardial biopsy was taken for measurement of thiol group content and XO before CPB and after heparin neutralization with protamin (a few minutes after CPB). Treated patients had better recovery of cardiac output (CO) and left ventricular stroke work (LVSW) 30 min and 6 h after completion of CPB than did controls. Allopurinol significantly reduced plasma XO. Plasma concentrations of uric acid increased significantly in both groups 30 min after completion of CPB, but the increase in controls was greater (p < 0.02) than with allopurinol. Thiol group levels increased (p < 0.05) only in controls. Our results demonstrate improvement of cardiac function in coronary artery bypass surgery with allopurinol that is related to its metabolic effects consistent with protection against XO catalyzed free radical-mediated injury.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Condemi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brambillasca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fundarò
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D007773:Lactates; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014527:Uric Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000493:Allopurinol; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D003402:Creatine Kinase