Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces the development of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome, with the release of cytokines that are responsible for many clinical manifestations. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to observe the release of the cytokines - tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>) and Interleukine-6 (IL-6), and to verify the clinical alterations produced in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with CPB, with or without corticoids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients were studied - 15 used corticoid (methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg -Group I) and 15 did not (Group II). Serial blood samples were collected and the TNF<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> and IL-6 release were analyzed, as well as the leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemia. The blood pressure, cardiac rate, temperature, postoperative bleeding, orotracheal tubing time and inotropic drug requirement were also compared. Statistical significance was assumed when p <FONT FACE="Symbol">£</font> 0.05. RESULTS: In Group I TNF<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> was not detected and IL-6 was detected in 13 patients, with levels ranging from 8.6 to 101.8 pg/ml. In Group II TNF<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> was detected in 13 patients, with levels between 5.4 and 231.0 pg/ml. The IL-6 in this group was detected in 15 patients, with higher levels than those in Group I, varying between 5.5 and 2569.0 pg/ml. The Group I patients had higher medium blood pressure (7.9 ± 0.5 vs 7.3 ± 0.4 mmHg) and lower inotropic drug requirement (5 vs 11). They evolved with less tachycardia (105.6 ± 5.9 vs 109.3 ± 7.2 bpm), lower temperature (36.5 ± 0.2 vs 37.3 ± 0.2°C), lower postoperative bleeding, (576.6 ± 119.5 vs 810.0 ± 176.2 ml), shorter orotracheal tubing time (11.0 ± 2.0 vs 14.6 ± 2.9 hs) and lower leukocytosis. The glycemia level was just significant (Group I > Grupo II) in the immediate postoperative and in the first postoperative samples. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate did not present significant statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The methylprednisolone significantly inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines mainly the TNF<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>. The systemic adverse effects caused by the inflammatory response after CPB were minimized by corticoid use.
Myocardial revascularization; Extracorporeal circulation; Corticoids; Sepsis syndrome; IL6; TNF-alpha
