[The effects of prostaglandin E1 on the granulocyte elastase, white blood cells and platelets in head-neck surgery].

We studied whether prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) inhibits the granulocyte elastase increase, white blood cell increase and platelet decrease caused by surgical stimuli in 30 head-neck surgical patients. The patients were divided into a group of no PGE1 infusion (C group) and two groups of PGE1 infusion (infusion of 10 ng.kg-1.min-1 in P 10 group and infusion of 30 ng.kg-1.min-1 in P 30 group). PGE1 was infused intravenously using a syringe pump during operation. The granulocyte elastase, white blood cells and platelets 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. Granulocyte elastase was maintained at significantly higher levels during and after surgery in 3 groups. White blood cells correlated with granulocyte elastase in 3 groups (especially in C group; Granulocyte elastase = 1.48 X white blood cells + 23.5, r = 0.672). Platelets decreased significantly in the first postoperative day in C and P 10 group. PGE1 has a tendency to inhibit dose-dependently the postoperative decrease in platelets. We conclude that 30 ng.kg-1.min-1 infusion of PGE1 did not inhibit granulocyte elastase release from white blood cells, but has a tendency to inhibit postoperative platelet decrease.