Hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column inhibits activation of vascular endothelial cells.

Involvement of the activation of neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells in the pathology of sepsis has recently been reported. We therefore investigated whether direct hemoperfusion (DHP) with a polymyxin B immobilized fiber column (PMX) could reduce the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), an index of vascular endothelial cell activation. Twelve sepsis patients satisfying the following criteria were enrolled in the study: (i) stable global oxygen metabolism (oxygen delivery index>500 mL/min/m2 and oxygen consumption index>120 mL/min/m2); (ii) abnormal tissue oxygen metabolism (PCO2 gap: gastric mucosal PCO2 minus arterial PCO2 difference>8 mm Hg); and (iii) mean blood pressure>or=60 mm Hg. Direct hemoperfusion with PMX was performed twice (for 3 h each time) within 24 h. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was measured a total of 5 times: before PMX-DHP, immediately after the first DHP with PMX session (3 h after the start), and 24, 48, and 72 h afterward. The PAI-1 value was 150+/-30.0 ng/mL before DHP with PMX, 178+/-60.0 ng/mL immediately after DHP with PMX, 90+/-22.1 ng/mL at 24 h after, 65+/-21.0 ng/mL at 48 h after, and 64+/-18.3 ng/mL 72 h after. The values were significantly lower from 48 h onward compared with baseline. These data suggest that DHP with PMX inhibits vascular endothelial cell activation.