PHOSPHOLIPASES A(2) IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS AFTER CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-SURGERY

Objective: To study the catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) and t he concentrations of group I and group II phospholipases A(2) in the s era of patients during and after coronary artery bypass surgery. Desig n: Prospective study. Setting: University hospital and research labora tory. Patients: Fourteen consecutive patients operated on for ischemic heart disease. Interventions: The catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) and the serum concentrations of group I and group II phospholipa ses A(2) were measured before, during, and after the operation until t he seventh postoperative day. A total of 196 blood samples were taken from 14 patients. Measurements and Main Results: The catalytic activit y of phospholipase A(2) and the concentration of group II phospholipas e A(2) increased in the sera of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. The concentration of group I phospholipase A(2) did not chang e. The catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) correlated significant ly with group II but not with group I phospholipase A(2) values. Concl usions: The increase in the catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) i n serum after coronary artery bypass surgery is due to group II phosph olipase A(2). The present results suggest that group II phospholipase A(2) is responsible for the physiologic and pathophysiologic effects o f catalytically active phospholipase A(2) after coronary artery bypass surgery.