Xh. Zheng et al., Humoral immune response to a sevoflurane degradation product in the guineapig following inhalation exposure, DRUG CHEM T, 24(4), 2001, pp. 339-346
Compound A (2-fluoromethoxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propene) is produced by
reaction of the inhalation anesthetic, sevoflurane, with CO2 absorbents. C
ompound A has been reported to directly react with protein. Since adduction
of proteins can transform them into antigenic material, Compound A was ass
essed for its ability to produce a humoral immune response. Male outbred Ha
rtley guinea pigs (500-600 g, N = 7) were exposed via inhalation for 4 h to
a subtoxic level (100 ppm) of Compound A, 3 times, at 42 day intervals. Bl
ood samples obtained at 2, 14, 28 and 40 days after each exposure were meas
ured for ALT, creatinine, and urea nitrogen and for the presence of antibod
ies to trifluoroacetylated guinea pig albumin (TFA-GSA). All indicators of
liver and kidney injury remained within normal range throughout the course
of the Study. A humoral immune response to TFA-GSA was observed following e
ach exposure to Compound A with a titer appearing by day 14 after exposure,
peaking near day 28, and resolving to normal levels by day 40. The titer l
evels were approximately equivalent after each exposure and about one-third
that previously seen in guinea pigs after multiple exposures to halothane.
Compound A would appear to have the ability to form antigenic adducts duri
ng inhalation exposure. These findings are similar to those observed for ha
logenated inhalation anesthetics that have been linked to cases of immune-m
edicated idiosyncratic hepatitis and indicate that Compound A exposure may
pose the same hazard.