Effects of ulinastattn on systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective To investigate the effects of ulinastatin on the systemic inflammatory response in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Forty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes, aged 27-44 yr, weighing 39-72 kg, scheduled for cardiac vavle replacement, were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20 each) : control group (group C) and ulinastatin group (group U). Ulinastatin 10 000 U/kg was injected iv 10 min before CPB, and ulinastatin 10 000 U/kg was added to the priming fluid in group U. The equal volume of normal saline was given in stead of ulinastatin in group C. Venous blood samples were taken at 15 min before CPB (T1), 10 min of CPB (T2), and 30 and 60 min after termination of CPB (T3,4)for determination of the plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α. Results The plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly lower and plasma IL-10 concentration was significantly higher during and after CPB in group U than in group C (P <0.05 or 0.01). The plasma concentrations of IL-6,IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly higher in beth groups at T2,3 than at T, (P < 0.01). Conclusion Ulinastatin can ameliorate the unbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses during CPB and reduce the systemic inflammatory response in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement. Key words: Trypsin inhibitors;  Systemic inflammatory response syndrome;  Cardiopulmonary bypass; Heart valve prosthesis implantation