Effect of plasmapheresis on the immune system in endotoxin-induced sepsis.
BACKGROUND
It has been proposed that plasmapheresis is most effective when applied early in Gram-negative sepsis. We therefore studied the effect of early plasmapheresis on immunity in experimental Escherichia coli endotoxin-induced sepsis.


METHODS
20 pigs received 30 microg/kg of E. coli endotoxin. 40 min later, half of the pigs were treated with plasmapheresis which lasted 4 h. The adhesion molecules, the oxidative burst, the number of neutrophils in blood and lungs, and cytokines were measured.


RESULTS
Infusion of endotoxin was associated with activation of adhesion molecules increased oxidative burst, increased concentration of cytokine, and accumulation of granulocytes in lung tissue. Plasmapheresis reduced the oxidative burst, and there was a tendency towards a reduced accumulation of granulocytes in the lung.


CONCLUSIONS
Though plasmapheresis was initiated early after the endotoxin infusion, it only temporarily attenuated a part of the activated cell-mediated immunity.
Toft
P
P
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. palle.toft@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
Schmidt
R
R
Broechner
A C
AC
Nielsen
B U
BU
Bollen
P
P
Olsen
K E
KE
D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006098:Granulocytes; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D018805:Sepsis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D013552:Swine
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli