The objective of this study was to determine the degree of leukocyte activation, as measured by cytokine release, in circulating blood during experimental extracorporeal circulation. Complete in vitro extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits were used, and 9 experiments were performed. Whole blood stored at 37 degrees C was used as the control. Blood samples were withdrawn before the start of perfusion and at 24 h of perfusion. Statistically significant releases of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, and IL-1 receptor antagonist were observed in the perfusion circuits compared to both the control blood and baseline values. Also, increases in plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and IL-6 were seen after 24 h of perfusion although these changes did not reach statistical significance. These results indicate that extracorporeal circulation induced leukocyte activation and cytokine release. These reactions might, as an additional trauma, deteriorate the situation in an already severely ill patient. A search for methods to counteract this untoward activation seems warranted.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of albumin priming on platelet consumption and activation during long-term perfusion. Two identical in vitro extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits were used; one was primed with Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin, the other with Ringer's solution only. Fresh heparinized human blood was pooled, divided between the two systems and circulated for 24 h at 37 degrees C. Platelet count, plasma concentration of betathromboglobulin (BTG), platelet membrane density of glycoprotein (GP) Ib and of GPIIb/IIIa were assayed before the start and at 0.5, 1, 3, 12 and 24 h of perfusion. In total, seven experiments were performed. We found that during the first hour of perfusion, slightly higher platelet counts (p = 0.058) and lower BTG values (p = 0.0005) were observed in the circuits primed with albumin, compared to the control circuits. No statistically significant differences were observed for the platelet membrane expression of GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa. We conclude that albumin priming appears to transiently prevent platelet consumption and activation during long-term perfusion.

No abstract

Treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ECMO) is associated with side effects, e.g., blood cell consumption and activation. Our group has earlier shown that nitric oxide administered as a gas reduces platelet consumption and activation. In the present work we have studied the effect of the NO-donor S-nitroso-glutathione GSNO) on platelets and leukocytes in an in vitro extracorporeal circuit. Two complete ECMO circuits were perfused with fresh heparinized human blood for 24 hours. GSNO was administered as a continuous infusion to one circuit at a rate of 0.7 mg/hour in four paired experiments and at a rate of 3.5 mg/hour in another four paired experiments. The other circuit was used as a control. Blood samples were withdrawn from both circuits before the start of the experiments and at 0.5, 1, 3, 12, and 24 hours of perfusion. The samples were analyzed for red blood cell count, leukocyte count, platelet count, platelet membrane expression of glycoproteins GP) Ib and GPIIb/IIIa, leukocyte membrane expression of cluster of differentiation CD) 11b/CD18, as well as plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor TNF)-alpha, interleukin IL)-1beta, and IL-8. No difference in these parameters between the GSNO and the control circuit at any time point was assayed. In this study, no significant effect of GSNO on circulating platelets or leukocytes during experimental extracorporeal circulation could be shown.

The third international meeting of the Scandinavian Association for Glycogen Storage Disease focused on hepatic glycogen storage disease and was organized for health-care professionals, patient representatives, and representatives from the industry. This report highlights dilemmas in dietary management, differences in monitoring strategies, and challenges with rare disease care, research, and patient participation.