Mediators of Inflammation (Jan 2013)

Long-Term Leukocyte Filtration Should Be Avoided during Extracorporeal Circulation

  • Jiali Tang,
  • Kaiyu Tao,
  • Jing Zhou,
  • Chongwei Zhang,
  • Lina Gong,
  • Nanfu Luo,
  • Lei Du

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/612848
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2013

Abstract

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Filtration during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) not only removes but also activates leukocytes; therefore, long-term leukocyte filtration may cause adverse effects. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by priming ECC with 300 mL of canine blood and examining filtration effects in 3 groups (n=6 each) during 60 min ECC. In the control group (Group C) blood was filtrated with an arterial filter for 60 min; in long-term (Group L) and short-term (Group S) groups, blood was filtrated with a leukocyte filter for 60 and 5 min. We found that about 90% of leukocytes were removed after 5 min of filtration in both Groups L and S. Although leukocyte count continued to reduce, mean fluorescent intensities of CD11/CD18, free hemoglobin, and neutrophil elastase increased in Group L and were higher than those in Groups C and S at 60 min. Leukocyte rupture, cytoplasmic leakage, and circulating naked nuclei were also found in Group L. The data support our hypothesis that long-term filtration can induce inflammation and lead to leukocyte destruction.