Erythropoietin improved initial resuscitation and increased survival after cardiac arrest in rats.
BACKGROUND
Recent data have demonstrated potent cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects of the application of growth hormones like erythropoietin (EPO) after focal cardiac or cerebral ischemia. In order to assess possible benefits regarding survival and resuscitation conditions, EPO was tested against placebo in a model of cardiac arrest in the rat.


METHODS
Thirty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups (EPO versus control; n=17 per group). Under anesthesia, cardiac arrest was induced by asphyxia after neuromuscular blockade. After 6 min of global ischemia, animals were resuscitated by external chest compression combined with epinephrine administration. An intravenous bolus of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO, 3000 UIkg(-1) body weight, i.v.) or saline (in control group) was performed 15 min before cardiac arrest, by a blinded investigator. Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h and hemodynamic changes after cardiac arrest were studied.


RESULTS
Survival to 72 h was significantly improved in the EPO group (n=15/17) compared to the control group (n=7/17). All the EPO-treated rats were successfully resuscitated whereas only 13 of 17 control animals resuscitated. EPO-treated animals required a significantly smaller dose of epinephrine before resuscitation, compared to control rats. Time course of systolic arterial blood pressure after resuscitation revealed no significant differences between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
EPO, when administrated before cardiac arrest, improved initial resuscitation and increased the duration of post-resuscitation survival.
Incagnoli
Pascal
P
Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation 2, CHU de Grenoble, BP 217, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France.
Ramond
Amandine
A
Joyeux-Faure
Marie
M
Pépin
Jean-Louis
JL
Lévy
Patrick
P
Ribuot
Christophe
C
D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin