Protective effect of prostaglandin E1 on platelet during cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective To investigate the protective effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on platelet during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods A total of 24 patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=12) and the control group (n=12).The levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α(6-K-PGF1α) in serum were measured at different intervals during and after CPB. The ultrastructure of platelets was also observed by transmission electron microscope.Results The levels of TXB2 and 6-K-PGF1α during CPB were significantly higher than those before CPB in the both groups(P0.01),and reached the highest at the end of CPB, then recovered as those before CPB. During CPB, The level of 6-K-PGF1α in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while the ratio of TXB2/6-K-PGF1αand the level of TXB2 were significantly lower than those in the control group (P0.01).It was found that the numbers of unactivated platelet in the both groups during CPB decreased obviously, while the numbers of activated platelet increased than those before CPB (P0.01).Conclusions PGE1 could effectively inhibit the activation of platelets, protect the function of platelets and decrease the loss during the CPB, so the coagulopathy caused by CPB relieved, and the amount of postoperative bleeding was consequently reduced.