[The effects of prostaglandin E1 on myeloperoxidase and alpha 1-protease inhibitor in head-neck surgery].

To investigate whether prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) 30 ng.kg-1.min-1 inhibits the release of lysosomal enzyme from granulocytes by surgical stimuli, we measured myeloperoxidase and alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) in 32 patients for head neck surgery. The patients were divided into two groups; no PGE1 infusion group (C group) and PGE1 30 ng.kg-1.min-1 infusion group (P group). PGE1 was infused intravenously using a syringe pump during operation. MPO and alpha 1-PI were measured at 4 points: before induction of anesthesia, before surgery, 4 hours after the start of surgery or the infusion of PGE1, and on the first postoperative day. MPO was maintained at significantly higher levels during and after surgery in both groups. alpha 1-PI decreased significantly during operation and increased for 10% in the first postoperative day in both groups. There were no significant differences between groups in MPO and alpha 1-PI levels. We conclude that the infusion of PGE1 30 ng.kg-1.min-1 did not completely inhibit the release of lysosomal enzyme from granulocytes by surgical stimuli.