PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR ANTAGONISM IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION IN NONHYPOTENSIVE SEPSIS IN PIGS

Objective: To study the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) an tagonism on cardiovascular function in Escherichia coli endotoxaemia i n non-hypotensive anaesthetised pigs. Design: Experimental study. Sett ing: Trauma research unit, Sweden. Material: 24 Domestic juvenile pigs . Interventions: 18 Pigs received a continuous infusion of E coli endo toxin in a dose of 36 mu g/kg/hour for 5 hours. They were allocated to two groups of 9 each. The first group (BB-882 group) received a conti nuous infusion of BB-882 (a novel potent PAF antagonist) 33 mg/kg/hour 30 minutes before the endotoxin while the second group (placebo group ) received vehicle alone. Another 6 pigs (control group) received only BB-882. Major outcome measures: Blood temperature, rigors, heart rate , intravascular pressure, cardiac and stroke volume indices and system ic vascular resistance. Results: Animals in the BB-882 group had signi ficantly fewer rigors (p < 0.001) and episodes of tachycardia (p < 0.0 01) than the placebo group. BB-882 significantly reduced the endotoxin -induced systemic hypertension (p < 0.001) and the rise in systemic va scular resistance (p < 0.001). BB-882 group had significantly higher c entral venous pressure (p < 0.05), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p < 0.001), cardiac index (p < 0.02), and stroke volume index (p < 0. 001). Conclusions: Pretreatment with a potent PAF receptor antagonist improved the cardiovascular function during nonhypotensive E coil endo toxaemia in pigs.