Impairment of renal function after cardiopulmonary bypass is not influenced by dopexamine.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dopexamine on renal function in 4 groups of patients either with or without renal dysfunction. Transient renal dysfunction is often not clinically relevant in patients with normal renal function, but it is an important clinical factor in patients with pre-existing renal failure. Dopexamine (DX) is a commonly used catecholamine which probably exerts a selective effect at the splanchnic bed.


METHODS
24 patients with normal renal function and 24 patients with impaired renal function (creatinine in serum > or = 1.5 mg/dL) were each randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group 1 (control) without renal dysfunction and group 3 (control/dysfunction) with renal dysfunction were considered as control groups, while the patients in DX and DX/dysfunction groups received 1 microg/kg/min dopexamine until the end of surgery. Kidney function was investigated using standard parameters and by investigating specific proteins and enzymes.


RESULTS
All patients showed pathologic excretions of the investigated parameters during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with no differences between the study groups. The distal tubule, the lysosomal regions, Henle's loop and the glomerular tuft were all damaged. Heart rate and cardiac index increased significantly in the DX-groups, first until the end of surgery, second until the start of ECC.


CONCLUSIONS
Dopexamine at a dose of 1 microg/kg/min had no influence on renal function and protein excretion and cannot be regarded as a kidney function protecting substance.
Dehne
M G
MG
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany. Marius.G.Dehne@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
Klein
T F
TF
Mühling
J
J
Sablotzki
A
A
Osmer
C
C
Hempelmann
G
G
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; C046318:dopexamine; D004298:Dopamine