Mechanical and pharmacological strategies to reduce the systemic inflammatory response during CABG

In a prospective, randomized, controlled study, 73 patients were enrolled. In Group UF patients (n = 21), zero-balanced ultrafiltration was performed during re-warming and modified ultrafiltration immediately after CPB. In Group MP patients (n = 26), 1 g methylprednisolone was given 30 min before CPB. The Group C patients (n = 26), received placebo instead.After CPB the concentration of interleukin(IL)-6 was significantly lower in Group UF and in Group MP compared with Group C (105 ± 20 and 124 ± 29 vs 203 ± 46 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.05, mean ± SEM). Anti-inflammatory IL-10 showed a significant (P < 0.01) peak after CPB in Group MP as compared to Group UF and also to Group C. In Group UF, intrapulmonary shunt fraction decreased during modified ultrafiltration from 31 ± 1.2 to 25 ± 1.3% while PaO2 and mean arterial pressure increased (P < 0.01). After CPB the PaO2 and also oxygen distribution in Group MP were higher (P < 0.05) as compared with Group C patients. Extubation-time was shorter in the UF-group compared to the Group C patients (6.1 ± 0.5 vs 8.6 ± 0.7 h, respectively; P < 0.05).The combination of zero-balanced and modified ultrafiltration reduces SIRS immediately after CPB, resulting in higher arterial pressure, improved pulmonary gas exchange, and shorter need of respiratory support. Methylprednisolone led to a marked reduction of the pro-inflammatory and an increase of anti-inflammatory response. Both strategies to reduce SIRS had positive influence on clinical parameters.