Summary
16 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass
(CPB) had blood samples taken at various times before, during and up to 1 week after
surgery for estimation of beta-thromboglobulin (BTG), alpha- 1-antichymo- trypsin
(ACT), factor VIII procoagulant protein (VIII:C), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag)
and ristocetin co-factor (vWFiRiCoF). vWF:Ag and vWF:RiCoF rose during and following
surgery in a different manner to ACT. At 1 week there was a significantly disproportionate
rise in vWF: Ag compared to vWFiRiCoF which suggested a degree of pulmonary endothelial
damage.
Prostacyclin, which was administered to 8 of the patients during CPB, reduced platelet
activation as measured by a reduction in the release of BTG and also attenuated the
consumption of VIII: C. It had no effect on pulmonary endothelial damage as measured
by the ratio of vWF: Ag to vWF: RiCoF.
Keywords
Factor VIII - Cardiopulmonary bypass - Prostacyclin - Endothelium