HISTAMINE AND TRYPTASE IN SERUM OF PATIENTS AFTER CORONARY SURGERY - INFLUENCE OF PRETREATMENT WITH METHYLPREDNISOLONE

The presence of histamine and tryptase in serum during and after coron ary artery bypass grafting may be an indication for the induction of i nflammation. One group of patients received no glucocorticoids, a seco nd one received methylprednisolone before extracorporeal circulation. In the steroid group, no effects were seen on the basal levels of hist amine and tryptase. In the other group, two peak levels of histamine w ere observed, one peak 10 minutes after starting extracorporeal circul ation and another peak 4 hours post-surgery. In this group, tryptase w as only elevated during the period of extracorporeal circulation. Ther e were no differences between both groups in complement activation. It was concluded that during surgery mast cells were activated but, sinc e tryptase levels decreased in the post-operative period, the increase in histamine level can only be explained by activation of basophils.