The human heart releases cardiotrophin-1after coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract

Objectives. Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is closely linked to many cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and heart failure, and exhibits cardioprotective effect in ischemia-reperfusion injury. The present study was designed to investigate the course of CT-1 in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to evaluate the relationship between plasma CT-1 levels and postoperative cardiac function. Methods. Twenty-four patients undergoing elective CABG were studied. Radial artery blood samples were collected before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 5 min and 20 min after reperfusion, and 1 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after CPB. Coronary sinus blood samples were collected before CPB, 5 min and 20 min after reperfusion. Plasma CT-1 levels were measured using the ELISA method. Hemodynamic data were collected. Results. Peripheral CT-1 levels did not change significantly postoperatively. Trans-myocardial CT-1 levels increased significantly 5 min and 20 minutes after reperfusion as compared to baseline. A weak positive correlation (r = 0.408, p = 0.048) was found between trans-myocardial CT-1 levels at 20 min after reperfusion and CI at 12 h after CPB. Conclusions. The heart secretes CT-1 after ischemic injury. The precise effect of CT-1 in CABG needs further investigation.

Key words::

• Cardiotrophin-1
• coronary artery bypass grafting
• ischemic reperfusion injury
• cardiopulmonary bypass

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by grants from Fund of the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission (05YFSZSF02700, 06YFJMJC08700), Tianjin, P. R. China and Fund from Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.