Dextran-70 to modulate inflammatory response after cardiopulmonary bypass: potential for a novel approach?

Potential deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic cardiac arrest are known to influence outcome. The inflammatory response after CPB may have unfavourable effects especially in high-risk patients, for example, the very elderly. Thus, to blunt the release of pro-inflammatory mediators seems to be a promising approach. So far, numerous attempts at immune modulation have been performed. However, the management of cardiac surgery patients needs further improvement. In this context, Gombocz and colleagues investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of dextran-70. Their results suggest that compared to gelatine, dextran-70 reduces the inflammatory response in patients after CPB.

Gombocz and colleagues performed a prospective, randomized, double blind study in 40 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). They investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of dextran-70 to modulate systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury following cardiac operations. Interestingly, they could demonstrate that the infusion of dextran-70 before and after CPB reduces inflammation and cardiac troponin I release [1].

The potential deleterious effects of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are well investigated under various conditions including CPB and off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB). There are several underlying mechanisms behind the unfavourable effects of CPB. This includes the systemic inflammation response induced by contact between immune competent cells and the extracorporal circuit, the ischemia-reperfusion injury of several organs, and the potential endotoxemia after splanchnic hypoperfusion and consecutive damage of the mucosal barrier [2]. It is well known that in low-risk patients the inflammatory response after CPB is less pronounced [3]. Avoiding CPB might improve the outcome even in elderly patients with higher morbidity [4] and might lead to good long-term results [5].

Nevertheless, the use of CPB is an essential requirement in certain cardiac surgery patients and routinely performed in cardiac surgery. The inflammatory response to CPB is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, leucocytosis and tissue oedema [2] as well as an increased release of cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 [6]. This was the rationale for investigations of immune modulation by corticosteroids [7], cyclooxygenase inhibitors [8], complement directed therapies [9], and adhesion molecule blockade [10]. The need for further studies was demonstrated by new insights regarding the therapy with aprotinin. Recently, it was shown that this widely used drug in cardiac surgery is associated with an increased risk of death even in long-term follow up after five years [11].

Gene array analysis revealed that leukocytes overexpress adhesion and signalling proteins after CPB which may lead to succeeding tissue inflammation [12]. Modulation of the inflammatory response seems to be an interesting therapeutic approach.

Previously, an anti-inflammatory effect of dextran could be demonstrated in experimental settings. Steinbauer and colleagues showed in ischemia-reperfusion injury in striated muscle, using intravital microscopy, that dextran attenuates postischemic leukocyte rolling in a molecular weight dependent manner [13].

In this context, the study by Gombocz and colleagues [1] yields interesting aspects on the immune modulation by dextran-70 in patients undergoing CABG. Using dextran-70 infusion in the early post-CPB phase is associated with lower inflammation when compared to gelatine. After 24 hours procalcitonin as well as cardiac troponin I and soluble adhesion molecules were found to be lower using dextran-70 [1]. Thus, this study suggests that compared to gelatine, dextran-70 reduces the inflammatory response in patients after CPB.

Some limitations of the study by Gombocz and colleagues need to be addressed: the single centre design including a small number of patients and a short observation period of approximately two days [1]. Nevertheless, the authors succeeded to further the exciting area of peri-operative inflammation in cardiac surgery.

As so often, further investigations are warranted to evaluate the effects of dextran-70 treatment in cardiac surgery. These trials need to be limited to high-risk patients most likely to experience benefit by anti-inflammatory therapies. Additionally, a combination of plasma inflammatory mediators and gene array analysis may lead to the identification of patients being more susceptible to harmful effects of CPB.

Abbreviations

CABG = coronary artery bypass grafting; CPB = cardiopulmonary bypass; IL = interleukin; I/R = ischemia/reperfusion; OPCAB = off pump coronary artery bypass; SIRS = systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Competing interests

GM has done paid consultation and verbal presentations for B Braun Melsungen AG, Germany. GM has performed research projects in collaboration with B Braun Melsungen AG and has thereby received other funding in the past. GM has also received fees for presentations and funds for performing research projects from Serumwerke Bernburg, Germany. TS has no competing interests.