Abstract
Purpose. To determine the involvement of leukocytes in reperfusion injury following acute arterial occlusion of the lower extremities, the effect of leukocyte removal filters or leukotrien B4 (LTB4) antagonist was investigated using a canine acute arterial occlusion model. Methods. Twenty-eight mongrel dogs, weighing 15 to 20kg, underwent temporal occlusion of the infrarenal aorta and lumbar arteries followed by release of occlusion 12 hours later. Experimental groups consisted of the three following groups: Group I (n=12; control), dogs without any treatment; Group II (n=8), dogs treated with leukocyte removal filters from the onset of reperfusion until one hour after reperfusion; and Group III (n=8), dogs pretreated with LTB4 antagonist immediately before reperfusion. Serum myoglobin, CPK, and GOT were measured and compared among the three groups. Results. Values of serum myoglobin, CPK, and GOT, were significantly elevated after reperfusion in Group I as compared to those before reperfusion. However, increase in these values was significantly elevated after reperfusion in Group I as compared to those before reperfusion. However, increase in these values was significantly attenuated in Group II and Group III as compared to Group I. Conclusions. These data suggested leukocyte depletion injury following acute arterial occlusion of the lower extremities. Leukocytes appear to play a significant role in this type of reperfusion injury.
