Effects of Cardiovascular Surgery on Blood Concentrations of Taurine and Amino Acids

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Abstract
Concentrations of taurine and other amino acids were measured in whole blood and plasma of patients who were subjected to either cardiac surgery which involved known cardiac trauma or noncardiac vascular surgery in which cardiac trauma was not expected. In all surgical procedures within 24 hr taurine levels in whole blood increased by 50 to 80% above control values. The concentration of taurine in plasma did not increase postsurgery thus indicating that a cellular component(s) of the blood was sequestering taurine. Fluctuations were also noted in the blood levels of some of the other amino acids but the changes were either not as pronounced as were the taurine elevations or were decreases in concentration. The results indicate that fluctuations in blood taurine levels do not constitute reliable indices to quantitate myocardial injury in the postoperative patient.