DO ETOMIDATE END PROPOFOL INFLUENCE OXYGEN RADICAL PRODUCTION OF NEUTROPHILS

The effects of etomidate in an alcoholic vehicle and in a lipid-emulsi on as well as those of propofol on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylala nine (FMLP-) and zymosan-induced oxygen radical production of neutroph ils were examined and compared with the effects of their respective ve hicles. Furthermore free-radical scavenging capacities of these medica tions were investigated. The dose-response effects of etomidate, propo fol and their respective vehicles on neutrophil function were tested b y FMLP- and zymosan-induced chemiluminescence of neutrophils and, in a ddition, in a cell-free chemiluminescence system. Effects of commercia l preparations of etomidate were generally not drug-specific but due t o the vehicles and/or to unphysiologic osmolality values. Propofol imp aired chemiluminescence of neutrophils in a drug-specific manner, even in the therapeutic concentration range. Free-radical scavenging contr ibuted to this depression of chemiluminescence of neutrophils by propo fol. Different composition of the lipid-emulsions of etomidate and pro pofol resulted in either a stimulation or suppression of chemiluminesc ence of neutrophils, Propofol but not etomidate impairs chemiluminesce nce of neutrophils drug-specifically, Besides a potential interaction with the neutrophils, free-radical scavenging accounts for this suppre ssion.