Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on vascular endothelial cells function and plasma tumor necrosis factor levels

Objective To investigate the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) on plasma endothelin-1(ET-1),nitric oxide(NO) equilibrium,malondialdehyde(MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in patients undergoing cardiovascular operation under CPB.Methods A total of 24 patients with congenital heart diseases were allocated to two group A(n=14),operated under CPB and group B(n=10),operated without CPB).Blood samples were collected from radial artery before operation(T1),at the end of operation(T2),6 h(T3) and 24 h after operation(T4).The levels of plasma ET-1,NO,MDA and TNF-α were measured.Results(1)Compared with group B,the level of ET-1 in group A significantly elevated at T2 and T3(P0.01),which returned to normal at T4.The concentration of plasma NO-2/NO-3 in group A began to drop to the lower level at T2 as compared with that in group B and increased gradulately to normal level at T3(P0.05).(2)In group A,MDA level was significantly increased at T2 and T3 as compared with baseline and those in group B(P0.05).The plasma level of TNF-α in group A significantly began to increase after operation as compared with the baseline value(P0.01).Conclusion CPB may cause activation of endothelial cells function,and imbalance of ET-1 and NO.