Abstract
We evaluated the effects of steroids on pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury in an in situ warm ischemia canine model. Fourteen dogs were divided into two groups : the control group and the steroid-treated group, which received 30mg/kg methylprednisolone 15 minutes before ischemia and 15 minutes before reperfusion. Warm ischemia was induced for 3 hours. The cardiac output (CO), left pulmonary vascular resistance (L-PVR), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and blood levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA were measured. A histologic study was performed and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were counted. The CO and PMNs after 30 minutes of reperfusion were significantly (p<0.05) better in the steroid-treated group than in the control group. The L-PVR after 30 minutes of reperfusion was better in the steroid-treated group than in the control group. The histologic damage was reduced in the steroid-treated group compared to the control group. IL-1β mRNA blood levels were lower in the steroid-treated group than in the control group. Steroids apparently produce a protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the lung.
