The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass in open-heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Haemolysis has long been recognized as one of the responses to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, has been known for many years for its haemorrheological properties. In this prospective, randomized study, we investigated whether a PTX treatment would reduce the haemolysis during CPB.


METHODS
The effect of PTX treatment on haemolysis during CPB was studied in 25 patients (PTX group). Oral PTX (1200 mg/day in 3 divided doses) treatment for 3 days was followed by 300 mg i.v. PTX administration after anaesthesia induction. The control group consisted of 25 patients with equivalent surgery but no PTX treatment. Blood samples were collected at seven time points: prior to CPB, at 5 and 10 min of CPB and 5, 10 and 15 min after removal of cross clamping and 10 min after weaning from bypass in order to measure the haemolysis parameters, which included free haemoglobin and haptoglobin.


RESULTS
PTX-treatment caused statistically significant decrements in plasma free haemoglobin levels during CPB. On the other hand, plasma haptoglobin levels stayed higher in PTX-medicated patients during the CPB as compared to control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that PTX may be an effective agent in reducing the haemolysis during CPB.
Golbasi
Ilhan
I
Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Antalya, Turkey. golbasi@med.akdeniz.edu.tr
Akbas
Halide
H
Ozdem
Sebahat
S
Ukan
Sabir
S
Ozdem
Sadi S
SS
Kabukçu
Hanife
H
Turkay
Cengiz
C
Bayezid
Omer
O
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006401:Hematologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006401:Hematologic Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline