title: The calcium channel blocker nifedipine fails to inhibit leucocyte elastase release during cardiopulmonary bypass.
abstract: Circulating concentrations of leucocyte elastase were measured in 16 adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a flat-sheet membrane oxygenator. Eight patients (Group I) received the calcium channel blocker nifedipine (9 micrograms.kg-1 x h-1) during CPB. Eight patients (Group II) did not receive any calcium channel blocker during surgery and served as the control group. Elastase concentrations were measured at 7 time points: 2 before, 2 during, and 3 after CPB. The bypass procedure was associated with elevation in elastase concentrations (P < 0.001). Comparing to baseline values elastase concentrations were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) 60 min after the start of CPB and on all measurements done after CPB. Elastase concentrations correlated with the duration of CPB (rs = 0.76, P < 0.001), and were not influenced by nifedipine infusion as revealed by comparing the two groups. This study demonstrates moderate elastase release during CPB with a flat-sheet membrane oxygenator and fails to confirm inhibition of elastase release by nifedipine infusion during CPB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Brussels Free University, Brugmann Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massaut
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hennebert
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tasiaux
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demanet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D009543:Nifedipine