Abstract
Methylprednisolone (MP) has anti-inflammatory properties. We evaluated the influence of MP on systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation. We compared three groups: (1) the HD-MP group (high-dose MP group): injecting 30mg/kg MP before extracorporeal circulation, (2) the LD-MP group (low-dose MP group): injecting 5mg/kg MP, (3) the N-MP group (non-MP group): no MP injected. Postoperative SIRS duration was shorter in the HD-MP and LD-MP groups than in the N-MP group, although low-dose MP had a shortening effect on the duration of SIRS. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) showed lower values in the HD-MP and LD-MP groups than in the N-MP group, although low-dose MP had an inhibitory effect on the production of interleukin. However, there were no differences between the three groups in the organ protective action of MP, such as total dose of catecholamine (as an index of cardiac dysfunction), intubation period (pulmonary dysfunction), GPT/D-Bil abnormality (liver dysfunction), or BUN/Cr abnormality (renal dysfunction). The maximum value of the postoperative white blood cell count showed a higher value in the HD-MP group than in the N-MP group. In conclusion, the usage of low dose (5mg/kg) MP in a conventional CABG operation is able to shorten SIRS duration and inhibit the production of IL-6 and IL-8 without increasing the risk of infection.
