Heparin coating of extracorporeal circuits inhibits cytokine release from mononuclear cells during cardiac operations

Purpose. To evaluate whether the production of interleukin 2 (IL 2), interleukin 6 (IL 6) and interleukin 10 (IL 10) from stimulated peripheal blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was affected by coating extracorporeal circuits in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In addition, postoperative clinical parameters were compared between patients with heparin-coated and uncoated CPB. Design. Prospective, controlled in vivo/ex vivo study. Procedure. Blood samples were drawn immediately before, at the end and 24 hours after the end of CPB using either a conventional circuit (n=10) or a heparin-coated circuit (n=10) in patients undergoing CPB. Cytokine release on the supernatants of activated PBMC was detected. Cardioplumonary parameters were measured before CPB, at ICU admission, 3 hours and 24 hours after ICU admission in both groups of patients. Statistical difference intragroups and between groups were investigated with the analysis of variance for repeated measures. Results. IL 6 and IL 10 release was significantly less (p<0.05) in the heparin-coated group. No differences in clinical parameters were observed between the two groups. Conclusions. These results suggest that with the use of heparin-coated circuits there is a lower production of IL 6 and IL 10 from isolated PBMC than with uncoated circuits.