This study compared mortality rates, endotoxaemia, systemic tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations after continuous and intermittent hepatic ischaemia. Two groups of rats were subjected to continuous or intermittent left hepatic inflow occlusion for a total period of 120 min in each group. Intermittent ischaemia was associated with significantly lower mortality rates than continuous ischaemia (four of 20 versus 15 of 20; P = 0.0015). In a separate study, again following 120 min continuous or intermittent ischaemia, systemic blood was sampled at 0 min, 1 h, 3 h and 5 h after final clamp release for measurement of endotoxin, TNF and IL-6 concentrations. Endotoxin concentrations were significantly lower at 1 h, as were TNF and IL-6 concentrations at 3 and 5 h, after final clamp release in the group having intermittent ischaemia (P < 0.05). Intermittent ischaemia is associated therefore with significantly reduced mortality rates and lower systemic endotoxin, TNF and IL-6 concentrations when compared with continuous ischaemia.

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