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.