Dose-dependent suppression of the neutrophil respiratory burst by lidocaine.
BACKGROUND
Oxygen radical production is thought to be fundamental to the pathogenesis of post-ischaemic reperfusion injury which is routinely managed with lidocaine. Attention has, therefore, focused on the suppression of the neutrophil respiratory burst with a therapeutic endpoint. The widest application of lidocaine remains in local analgesia.


METHODS
A standard chemiluminescence technique was used to assess the human neutrophil leukocyte response to increasing doses of lidocaine in the presence or absence of particulate hydroxyapatite.


RESULTS
No reduction of oxygen radical production was seen at the drug concentration of 1 mg/ml. A clear, concentration-dependent inhibition was seen at 2 mg/ml, 3 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml and 8 mg/ml concentrations. These drug concentrations may be reached at or near the site of injection in local anaesthetic use.


CONCLUSIONS
Lidocaine showed profound anti-inflammatory action in this experimental system. Controlled studies in the clinical setting would identify the optimal analgesic and anti-inflammatory dosage, whilst preserving host defence without compromising tissue repair.
Hyvönen
P M
PM
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Kowolik
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017886:Durapatite; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017886:Durapatite; D008012:Lidocaine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate