IL-8 concentration in coronary sinus blood during early coronary reperfusion after ischemic arrest

Objective: Activation of the inflammatory response is an important factor c ontributing to complications of cardiopulmonary bypass. Increased level of proinflammatory cytokine-IL-8 has been reported during coronary artery bypa ss grafting (CABG) operations with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The a im of this study was to find out whether the heart is the main source of IL -8 during early coronary reperfusion. Methods: IL-8 concentration in corona ry sinus before clamping and 5, 10, and 15 min after declamping of the aort a as well as in radial artery blood before clamping and 10 min after declam ping of the aorta, was assessed in 30 patients undergoing CABG surgery. Res ults: We observed increase in IL-8 concentration in coronary sinus blood af ter declamping of the aorta, however no difference between coronary sinus a nd arterial blood concentration was noted. The median value of IL-8 concent ration in coronary sinus blood was 1.85 pg/ml before ischemia and 15.4, 20. 3, and 29.3 pg/ml in 5, 10 and 15 min after aortic declamping, respectively . Our additional finding was that there was a negative correlation between IL-8 level and hemoglobin saturation with oxygen in coronary sinus blood 10 min after coronary reperfusion. Conclusions: We conclude that the heart is not the main source of IL-8 in early coronary reperfusion, although corona ry reperfusion induces its release. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.