• B Stiller, J Sonntag, I Dähnert, V Alexi-Meskishvili, R Hetzer, T Fischer, and P E Lange.
• Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany. stiller@dhzb.de
• Intensive Care Med. 2001 Jan 1; 27 (1): 193-200.

ObjectivesCapillary leak syndrome (CLS) is associated with significantly increased morbidity and occurs after cardiopulmonary bypass in children with congenital heart disease. We investigated the early clinical parameters that predict the development of CLS and examined the relationship between the presence of CLS and complement and contact activation and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) during and after bypass.DesignIn this prospective study we took serial serological measurements of the complement and contact system and C1-INH in a cohort of 27 infants before, during, and up to 96 h after open-heart surgery.ResultsComplement and contact activation and a decrease in C1-INH were measured in all infants during and after CPB. Ten infants developed CLS postoperatively. Younger age and longer bypass time were strongly correlated to the development of CLS. No relationship was found between the degree of hypothermia, weight, gender, or cross-clamp time. C1-INH concentration and activity were lower peri- and postoperatively in the CLS group. Infants with CLS had a more pronounced postoperative increase in the C5a and C3a levels, higher postoperative level of factor XIIa, and lower prekallikrein activity than those without CLS.ConclusionContact and complement activation occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass and contributes to CLS more frequently in infants of a younger age and with a prolonged bypass time. This activation and decrease in C1-INH was strongly expressed in the CLS group, and therefore early substitution of C1-INH may prevent CLS after open-heart surgery in high-risk infants.

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