Evaluation of DNA damage and lipoperoxidation of propofol in patients undergoing elective surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Inhaled anaesthetics have been studied regarding their genotoxic and mutagenic potential in vivo. Propofol differs from volatile anaesthetics because it does not show mutagenic effects and it has been reported to be an antioxidant. However, there are no studies with propofol and genotoxicity in vivo. The study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that propofol is not genotoxic and it inhibits lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] in patients undergoing propofol anaesthesia.


METHODS
ASA physical status I patients scheduled for elective surgery, lasting at least 90 min, were enrolled in this study. Initially, the estimated plasma concentration of propofol was targeted at 4 microg ml(-1) and then maintained at 2-4 microg ml(-1) until the end of surgery. Haemodynamic data were determined at baseline (before premedication) and in conjunction with target-controlled infusion of propofol: after tracheal intubation, 30, 60 and 90 min after anaesthesia induction and at the end of the surgery. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, after tracheal intubation, at the end of the surgery and on the postoperative first day for evaluating DNA damage in white blood cells (WBCs), by comet assay, and MDA levels.


RESULTS
Haemodynamic data did not differ among times. No statistically significant differences were observed for the levels of DNA damage in WBCs, nor in plasma MDA, among the four times.


CONCLUSIONS
Propofol does not induce DNA damage in WBCs and does not alter MDA in plasma of patients.
Braz
Mariana Gobbo
MG
Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. mgbraz@hotmail.com
Magalhães
Marcelo Rocha
MR
Salvadori
Daisy Maria
DM
Ferreira
Ana Lúcia
AL
Braz
Leandro Gobbo
LG
Sakai
Eduardo
E
Braz
José Reinaldo
JR
D000328:Adult; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D015742:Propofol