Artificial organs
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Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to induce several pathogenic responses in cardiovascular surgery. To explore leukocyte activation during PCB, we investigated superoxide anion (O2-) production by granulocytes in 6 patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery. O2- production was determined with chemiluminescence amplified by a cypridina luciferin analogue. ⋯ However, significant complement activation was detected, and the plasma level of granulocyte elastase increased gradually during and after CPB. This discrepancy between the unchanged O2- production by stimulated granulocytes and the increase in inflammatory mediators including granulocyte elastase may be due to sequestration of activated granulocytes in extravascular tissues. Namely, it was highly likely that activated granulocytes responsible for the increased plasma elastase level were sequestered and remained outside the blood circulation.