COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS WITHOUT BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Abstract

We studied a complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass without blood transfusion. The degree of com-plement (CH50) consumption during cardiopulmonary bypass without blood transfusion was lower than that during cardiopulmonary bypass with blood transfusion. The level of C3a and C4a gradually increased after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. The level of C3a decreased to the level before cardiopulmonary bypass on the first postoperative day. The level of C4a did not decrease to the level before cardiopulmonary bypass on the first postoperative day.
This indicates that the complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass without blood trans-fusion occurs mainly via the alternative pathway and cardiopulonary bypass without blood trans-fusion has an advantage in performing cardiac operations.