Significance of interferon-gamma in coronary artery bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND
Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is produced by activated natural killer and T cells under pathologic circumstances. The objective of our study was to compare the level of IFN-gamma in open and endoscopic methods of vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).


METHODS
Ninety samples of human saphenous veins harvested from patients prepared for CABG. Pre- and post-procedure sera of the patients, in addition to supernatants of 3-day endothelial cell culture, were analyzed for IFN-gamma.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative IFN-gamma level (0.09+/-0.03 pg/mL) and that for postoperative sera (0.08+/-0.02 pg/mL) were not significantly different (P = 0.2). The mean IFN-gamma level in endothelial cell culture from the endoscopic (0.18+/-0.21 pg/mL) and the open method (0.19+/-0.39 pg/mL) were not significant (P = 0.89).


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the endoscopic method of vein harvesting because of its lower morbidity and earlier hospital discharge.
Alrawi
S J
SJ
Department of Surgery, Research Institute of MMC & LMC, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA.
Abo Deeb
A A
AA
Samee
M
M
Raju
R
R
Shirazian
D
D
Acinapura
A J
AJ
Cunningham
J N
JN
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D007371:Interferon-gamma