[Effect of ulinastatin on lung injury after dilute hydrochloric acid aspiration].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on blocking the development of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by acid aspiration in the early period. METHODS: The SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (n = 10), injury group (n = 10), and UTI-treated group (n = 10). The rats in the control group were injected intrabronchialy saline while the other 2 groups were injected HCl. The UTI-treated group was injected UTI at 4 x 10(4) U/kg after acid instillation. Blood gas as well as wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of the left lung was measured. The changes of IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels in the pulmonary tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The result of blood gas analysis in the UTI-treated group was much better than that in the injury group (P < 0.01). W/ D and IL-8, TNF-alpha levels were lower in the UTI-treated group than those in the injury group significantly (P < 0. 01), and there was no difference between the UTI-treated group and the control group in IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels (P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: UTI administration can lessen the development of ALI induced by acid aspiration in the early period.