[The inhibitory effects of ulinastatin on the increase of interleukin 8 and 6 during open heart surgery].

The effects of ulinastatin on the serum interleukin 8 and 6 (IL-8, 6), granulocyte elastase (GEL), creatinphosphokinase (CK) and CK-MB were studied during open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Eleven patients (group I) did not receive ulinastatin. Thirteen patients (group II) received 600,000 units of ulinastatin intravenously before CPB and before declamping of aorta and 12 patients (group III) received 300,000 units more added in the priming solution. The serum concentration of IL-8 and 6 increased at 60, 120, 180 min. after reperfusion compared with the preoperative value in the three groups. But, at each time point after reperfusion, IL-8 and 6 levels in group II and III were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those in group I. GEL increased progressively after reperfusion in the three groups. There was no significant difference in the three groups with CK-MB as well CK release. These results suggest that ulinastatin is useful for protection of reperfusion injury after myocardial ischemia since ulinastatin suppresses production of IL-8 and 6.