Formation of cytokines by retransfusion of shed whole blood

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We have studied, in 10 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, the release of cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1α (IL-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)) in association with retransfusion of autologous shed blood. The patients were reinfused with whole blood collected after operation. The median volume returned to the patients was 300 ml whole blood (25–75% range = 300–425 ml). Before reinfusion, blood was filtered. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 increased 1 and 60 min after retransfusion (P < 0.05). The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-8 did not change significantly after retransfusion of shed wound blood. However, there were increased concentrations of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in the collected blood (P < 0.001). The filtration procedure did not reduce significantly the concentrations of these factors. This study shows that whole blood collected from a surgical wound contains large concentrations of cytokines. Filtration of the shed wound blood did not reduce significantly these levels and retransfusion caused increased plasma concentrations of IL-6. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1994; 72: 422–425)

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: