[Experimental study of the immunomodulator effect of pentoxifylline in bacterial translocation produced by lipid-free parenteral nutrition].
BACKGROUND
Bacterial translocation (BT) leads to sepsis of intestinal origin and, despite current advances, there is a high level of mortality and morbidity as a result of this. We have attempted to investigate whether such an immunity modulating substance as Pentoxiphylline (PX) might diminish or inhibit BT. We have chosen PX because it has immunity modulation actions and inhibits the synthesis and action of TNF-alpha, which seems to be linked to the progress of these conditions towards multiple organ failures.


METHODS
An experimental study was performed with 4 groups of 20 Wistar rats subjected to lipid-free parenteral nutrition (PN) over 7 days. Group A: PN; group B: PN + 50 mg/kg of PX; group C: PN + 100 mg/kg; and group D: PN + 134 mg/kg. On day 7, a sterile extraction was effected to remove the mesenteric ganglial chain, liver, blood and intestine, and these samples were processed for the quantitative and qualitative microbiological study, the histological study of the intestinal mucosa and the quantification of TNF-alpha. The data obtained were subsequently analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The quantitative microbiological study revealed that, with statistically significant differences, more colonies grew in the lymphatic ganglion, liver and blood of animals belonging to group A. The germ most frequently identified was E. Coli. In the study of TNF-alpha, the greatest value corresponded to group A, again with statistically significant differences. In the histological study, it was observed that group A showed the greatest atrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experimental model is valid as a model of BT, in group A, without PX, a total of 16 BT occurred while in the groups with PX the number of BT fell, as did the serum figures for TNF-alpha.
García Coret
M J
MJ
Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Marina Alta de Denia y del Hospital General y Universitario de Valencia.
Villalba Ferrer
F
F
Vázquez Prado
A
A
Fuster Diana
C
C
Ramos de Campos
M
M
de la Morena Valenzuela
E
E
Trullenque Peris
R
R
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D008055:Lipids; D010431:Pentoxifylline