Effects of colloidal resuscitation fluids on the neutrophil respiratory burst

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have revealed that gelatin and HES produce increased neutrophil respiratory burst activity. It was investigated wheth er 3-percent gelatin (MW 35,000) and three types of 6-percent HES (MW 70,00 0; degree of substitution, 0.5; 200,000/0.5; 450,000/0.7) preparations can influence superoxide anion production during respiratory burst under clinic al conditions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 40 patients befo re and 1 hour after the infusion, before anesthesia and surgical treatment. After stimulation with bacteria (Escherichia coli), the respiratory burst was measured by oxidation of nonfluorescent dihydrorhodamine 123 to the flu orescent rhodamine 123 by the use of flow cytometry. RESULTS: Respiratory burst activity decreased significantly (p = 0.004) fro m the baseline (60.0 +/- 6.5%) to 1 hour after the administration of the lo w-molecular-weight HES preparation (55.0 +/- 6.8%). No significant differen ces in respiratory burst activity could be found after the administration o f gelatin or medium-molecular-weight or high-molecular-weight HES solution. CONCLUSION: The investigated administration of gelatin and medium- and high -molecular-weight HES preparations did not influence respiratory burst acti vity under clinical conditions. However, the neutrophil respiratory burst w as impaired after the administration of low-molecular-weight HES. Neutrophi l respiratory burst activity may vary according to the type of colloidal pl asma substitutes administered.