Effects of leukocyte depletion on cardiopulmonary protection and inflammation after valve surgery.

Background: To evaluate the effects of leukocyte-depleting filtration on myocardial and pulmonary protection and the inflammatory response in patients undergoing valve surgery. Methods: Fifty-two patients who underwent mitral valve or mitral and aortic valve replacement were randomized into two groups with or without a leukocyte-depleting filter during surgery. The filter was used from 10 minutes before the release of the aortic cross-clamp to the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. Results: Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts showed a short-term reduction in patients undergoing leukocyte filtration, but there was no significant difference between the two groups during the study. Serum levels of cardiac troponin I were lower than that of the control group (p=0.030). Leukocyte depletion resulted in a significantly higher oxygenation index (p=0.002) and a lower respiratory index (p=0.003) compared with the control group. Serum levels of interleukin-8 were significantly elevated in patients undergoing leukocyte filtration compared with patients without leukocyte filtration (p=0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regards to the concentration of interleukin-6 and TNFα, or the duration of intensive care and hospital stay. Conclusions: Leukocyte depletion is associated with improved myocardial and lung protection but does not appear to attenuate the inflammatory response in valve surgery.