Efficacy of methylprednisolone in preventing lung injury following pulmonary
thromboendarterectomy.
Author(s): Kerr KM, Auger WR, Marsh JJ, Devendra G, Spragg RG, Kim NH, Channick RN, Jamieson
SW, Madani MM, Manecke GR, Roth DM, Shragg GP, Fedullo PF.
Affiliation(s): Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Univeristy of California San
Diego Medical Center, 9300 Campus Point Dr, M/C 7381, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
kmkerr@ucsd.edu
Publication date & source: 2012, Chest. , 141(1):27-35
BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of perioperative
treatment with methylprednisolone on the development of lung injury after
pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.
METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study of 98 adult patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who
were undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy at a single institution. The
patients received either placebo (n = 47) or methylprednisolone (n = 51) (30
mg/kg in the cardiopulmonary bypass prime, 500 mg IV bolus following the final
circulatory arrest, and 250 mg IV bolus 36 h after surgery). The primary end
point was the presence of lung injury as determined by two independent, blinded
physicians using prospectively defined criteria. The secondary end points
included ventilator-free, ICU-free, and hospital-free days and selected levels of
cytokines in the blood and in BAL fluid.
RESULTS: The incidence of lung injury was similar in both treatment groups (45%
placebo, 41% steroid; P = .72). There were no statistical differences in the
secondary clinical end points between treatment groups. Treatment with
methylprednisolone, compared with placebo, was associated with a statistically
significant reduction in plasma IL-6 and IL-8, a significant increase in plasma
IL-10, and a significant reduction in postoperative IL-1ra and IL-6, but not IL-8
in BAL fluid obtained 1 day after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative methylprednisolone does not reduce the incidence of
lung injury following pulmonary thromboendarterectomy surgery despite having an
antiinflammatory effect on plasma and lavage cytokine levels.
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