Increased circulating bradykinin during hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

To determine whether cold could activate the kallikrein-kinin system in vivo as it does in vitro, the circulating systemic concentrations of bradykinin were serially measured in 10 cyildren with congenital diseases of the heart undergoing corrective cardiac surgery. Bradykinin was measured by radioimmunoassay in blood samples obtained before, during and after profound hypothermia (to 18 degrees C) and cardiopulmonary bypass. The circulating concentrations of bradykinin increased significantly as body temperature decreased during surface cooling. The increase in circulating bradykinin was associated with a decrease in the circulating level of bradykininogen, the precursor of bradykinin. With the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass and hence, removal of the lung and pulmonary converting enzyme from the circulation, there was a further rise in the already elevated concentrations of bradykinin. This is the first in vivo demonstration that hypothermia leads to an increase in the circulating concentrations of bradykinin.