Effects of sevoflurane on cytokine balance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objective: The effects of sevoflurane on proinflammatory cytokines related to ischemic-reperfusion injury are not clear. The hypothesis was tested that sevoflurane decreases myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Setting: A medical university heart center. Participants: Twenty-three patients undergoing coronary artery by-pass surgery allocated randomly into 2 groups Interventions: Anesthesia for 23 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery was maintained using either fentanyl (30 mu g/kg) with propofol (2-8 mg/kg/h) in the control group (n = 10) or fentanyl (30 mu g/kg) with 0.5% to 1.0% sevoflurane in the sevoflurane group (n = 13). Measurements and Main Results: Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Troponin-T and creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) were measured by enzyme immunoassay and ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in both groups increased significantly over baseline from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001). The increases were greater in the control group than in the sevoflurane group (p < 0.05). Serum IL-10 and IL-1ra concentrations in both groups increased significantly over baseline from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups. Serum troponin-T and CK-MB concentrations increased significantly in both groups from 60 minutes after declamping the aorta (p < 0.001); the increases were greater in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sevoflurane suppressed the production of IL-6 and IL-8, but not IL-10 and IL-1ra. Changes in the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be one of the most important mechanisms of myocardial protection caused by sevoflurane. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.