Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Lowenstein

Publications and source records attributed to E Lowenstein.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Neutralization of low molecular weight heparin by polybrene prevents thromboxane release and severe pulmonary hypertension in awake sheep.

Protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation in patients is occasionally associated with life-threatening acute pulmonary hypertension. In a sheep model, we evaluated the effect on this adverse cardiopulmonary reaction of modifying the type of heparin (low molecular weight heparin compared with unfractionated heparin) and the type of heparin antagonist (polybrene compared with protamine). Protamine reversal of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and polybrene reversal of unfractionated heparin induced more than a 10-fold increase of plasma thromboxane B2 levels, a threefold increase of pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure, and a 25% decrease of PaO2. A similar adverse reaction followed protamine reversal of conventional unfractionated heparin. However, with polybrene (1 mg/kg) reversal of LMWH (1 mg/kg), we measured neither pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery pressure was 22.6 +/- 3.6 mm Hg at 1 minute after polybrene reversal of LMWH compared with 47.9 +/- 4.2 mm Hg after protamine reversal of unfractionated heparin, p less than 0.005 groups differ), hypoxemia (PaO2 was unchanged 2 minutes after polybrene compared with a decrease of 26 mm Hg 2 minutes after protamine, p less than 0.05), nor acute release of thromboxane into arterial plasma (thromboxane B2 was 0.2 +/- 0.1 at 1 minute after polybrene compared with 3.7 +/- 1.7 ng/ml at 1 minute after protamine, p less than 0.005). The hemodynamic effects and mediator release were also benign after neutralization of larger doses of LMWH (3 mg/kg) by polybrene (3 mg/kg). The increases of activated clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin time due to both types of heparin were completely reversed with polybrene. Anti-Xa activity increased to more than 3 IU/ml 4 minutes after LMWH anticoagulation (p less than 0.01) but was only partially neutralized by polybrene. Various polyanion-polycation complexes that are formed when heparin anticoagulation is reversed induce thromboxane release and acute pulmonary vasoconstriction in awake sheep. Reversal of LMWH anticoagulation with polybrene does not elicit this adverse reaction.

Animals↗

Thromboxane receptor blockade prevents pulmonary hypertension induced by heparin-protamine reactions in awake sheep.

We used competitive thromboxane A2-prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor blockade (SQ 30,741) as a probe to evaluate the role of thromboxane in ovine pulmonary vasoconstriction associated with protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation. Control heparin-protamine reactions induced rapid release of thromboxane into arterial plasma (more than 1 ng/ml plasma), a 2.5-fold increase of pulmonary artery pressure, a 20% decrease of PaO2, and a 30% reduction in arterial white blood cell concentration. After giving SQ 30,741 despite similar thromboxane release into arterial plasma after heparin-protamine challenge, acute pulmonary hypertension was significantly reduced when 94% of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle thromboxane receptors were occupied with SQ 30,741 (p less than 0.01 at 1 minute after protamine versus control heparin-protamine reaction) and was completely abolished by a 10 mg/kg i.v. bolus (p less than 0.0001 at 1 minute after protamine versus control). Peripheral leukopenia was not affected by SQ 30,741 prophylaxis, but hypoxemia was prevented. We conclude that thromboxane causes pulmonary vasoconstriction in ovine heparin-protamine-induced pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary vasoconstriction and hypoxemia can be completely prevented by thromboxane receptor blockade.

Animals↗

Ventricular performance and glucose uptake in rats during chronic hypobaric hypoxia.

To identify changes of ventricular performance and their relationship to myocardial glucose uptake in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia, radionuclide angiocardiograms (n = 34) and 2-[14C]deoxyglucose (2-[14C]DG) autoradiography (n = 14) were performed on rats maintained either for two weeks in air at 380 mmHg (hypoxic group), two weeks in hypobaric hypoxia followed by two weeks of air (recovered group), or in air (control group). Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was 66% +/- 2% (mean +/- s.e.m.) in controls, 40% +/- 3% during hypoxia, and 60% +/- 2% in recovered rats. LVEF remained unchanged. In controls, RV 2-[14C]DG uptake was 77% +/- 3% of LV uptake. During hypoxia, 2-[14C]DG uptake increased. This increase was greater within the RV than the LV and septum (85 +/- 16% versus 51 +/- 10%, p less than 0.005). The alterations of RV 2-[14C]DG uptake correlated with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.77, p = 0.002).

Animals↗

Association of protamine IgE and IgG antibodies with life-threatening reactions to intravenous protamine.

Life-threatening reactions to intravenous protamine, administered to reverse heparin anticoagulation, have been reported with increasing frequency as a consequence of the escalating use of cardiac catheterization and coronary bypass surgery. Retrospective studies have shown that such reactions are more common in diabetic patients receiving daily subcutaneous injections of protamine-insulin preparations. To determine whether anti-protamine IgE or IgG antibodies might explain the increased risk for protamine reactions among patients with protamine-insulin-dependent diabetes, we conducted a case-control study of 27 patients (diabetic and nondiabetic) who had acute reactions to intravenous protamine and 43 diabetic patients who tolerated protamine without a reaction during diagnostic or surgical procedures. Cases and controls were grouped according to previous exposure to protamine-insulin preparations. In diabetic patients who had received protamine-insulin injections, the presence of serum antiprotamine IgE antibody was a significant risk factor for acute protamine reactions (relative risk, 95; P = 1.0 X 10(-5), as was antiprotamine IgG (relative risk, 38; P = 1.2 X 10(-5). No patients without previous exposure to protamine-insulin injections had serum protamine IgE antibodies. In this group, anti-protamine IgG antibody was a risk factor for protamine reactions (relative risk, 25; P = 0.0062). We conclude that in protamine-insulin-dependent diabetics, the increased risk of serious reactions when intravenous protamine was given appeared to be caused largely by antibody-mediated mechanisms. In nondiabetic subjects, the presence of protamine IgG was significantly associated with an increased risk of acute protamine reactions, although many nondiabetic subjects who had reactions had no IgG antibodies.

Adult↗

Comparison of hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, mechanical, and metabolic indicators of intraoperative myocardial ischemia in vascular surgical patients with coronary artery disease.

To compare mechanical, electrocardiographic, and metabolic indices of myocardial ischemia, the cardiokymogram (CKG), the V5 ECG, left anterior descending coronary artery territory lactate extraction, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were measured in 53 vascular surgical patients with coronary artery disease. Measurements were performed preoperatively and at four specific intraanesthetic intervals: after tracheal intubation, before surgery, and 10 and 30 min after incision. Measurements and sampling sequence took 5-7 min, and therapy for the probable cause of ischemia was instituted following completion of this sequence. Myocardial ischemia was defined as type II or III CKG, 0.1 mV or greater horizontal or downsloping depression of V5 ECG ST segment, 0.2 mV or greater elevation of V5 ECG ST segment, or myocardial lactate production. Thirty-nine patients (74%) had a total of 89 episodes of myocardial ischemia. Seventy-four episodes (83%) were detected by the CKG, 31 (44%) were evident on the ECG, and 13 (15%) by evidence of lactate production. The concordance among the indices of myocardial ischemia was poor. Patients with an abnormal preoperative ECG experienced a greater number of ischemic episodes (P less than 0.001). Elevation of PCWP or the presence of A-C or V-waves greater than 5 mmHg above the mean did not individually reflect ischemia reliably. Intraoperative myocardial ischemia is common in vascular surgical patients and is most sensitively detected by ventricular wall motion abnormality.

Aged↗

Effect of platelet depletion on lung vasoconstriction in heparin-protamine reactions.

In six awake sheep the control heparin-protamine reaction was associated with a 150-fold rise in arterial plasma thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels, a 4.5-fold increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, a 20% decrease in cardiac output, a 30% decrease in arterial PO2, and a 30% reduction in arterial white blood cell concentrations. Depletion of 99% of circulating platelets by antibodies did not prevent either acute and severe pulmonary hypertension or increased plasma TxB2 levels induced by heparin-protamine administration. We produced sheep platelet aggregation in vitro with bovine thrombin and measured marked TxB2 release (36.3 +/- 16.3 ng/10(9) platelets). In contrast, neither heparin, protamine, nor heparin-protamine complexes over a 10,000-fold range of concentrations induced platelet aggregation and release of thromboxane in vitro. Therefore sheep platelets are not the source of thromboxane production associated with acute pulmonary hypertension during the heparin-protamine reaction, and other cells must produce the thromboxane.

Animals↗

Perioperative cardiac problems.

Cardiovascular complications of surgery--myocardial infarction (MI), chest pain, stroke, heart failure, and rhythm disturbances--are a major cause of post-operative a major cause of post-operative morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies have been conducted on postoperative MI in diverse populations, including patients with previous MI and others with coronary artery disease (CAD) who have or have not undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This review presents data from a number of these studies, which attempted to identify predictive tools and contributing factors to postoperative MI and other ischemic events. These potentially predictive methods and factors include previous MI, hemodynamic aberrations and monitoring, drug regimens, presence of CAD, CABG surgery, preoperative and intraoperative ischemia, congestive heart failure, thallium scintigraphy, and anesthesia.

Age Factors↗

Acute pulmonary vasoconstriction and thromboxane release during protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation in awake sheep. Evidence for the role of reactive oxygen metabolites following nonimmunological complement activation.

When protamine (2 mg/kg) was injected intravenously into awake sheep 5 minutes after infusing heparin (200 units/kg), there was transient diffuse pulmonary vasoconstriction with mean pulmonary arterial pressure increasing from 18.0 +/- 0.7 to 43.8 +/- 2.7 mm Hg at 1 minute (x +/- SEM; n = 10). In addition, there was profound leukopenia (36.9 +/- 7.7% of baseline values at 2 minutes) with transpulmonary leukocyte sequestration and transiently elevated plasma concentrations of C3a (from 420 +/- 146 to 1,599 +/- 249 ng/ml; n = 3, p less than 0.01) and thromboxane B2 (from 0.30 +/- 0.05 to 6.3 +/- 2.8 ng/ml; n = 10, p less than 0.0001), without significant increases of plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin F2 alpha, leukotrienes, or histamine. Intravenous injection of protamine alone produced no hemodynamic effects and did not increase plasma levels of vasoconstrictor eicosanoids. Intravenous pretreatment with either a cyclooxygenase inhibitor or a hydrogen peroxide scavenger (dimethylthiourea) blocked both the increases of thromboxane levels and the pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Animals↗

C5a and thromboxane generation associated with pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction during protamine reversal of heparin.

The authors conducted a study in humans to determine the mediators associated with acute pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction occurring episodically with protamine reversal of heparin anticoagulation. Of 48 adult patients investigated prospectively after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass, two presented a sudden increase of airway pressure, acute pulmonary hypertension, and systemic hypotension 1-3 min after right atrial protamine injection. In these two subjects, plasma levels of C5a increased from 0.7 and 2.2 to 9.8 and 9.9 ng/ml, respectively, and thromboxane B2 increased from 0.26 and 0.34 to 7.5 and 16.2 ng/ml 1 minute after drug injection. A third subject not identified prospectively had an identical reaction and mediator profile (C5a, 10.2 ng/ml; TxB2, 18.6 ng/ml at 1 min). The plasma levels of these mediators were unchanged in the remaining patients (C5a, 0.7 +/- 1.1 [x +/- S.D.] to 0.6 +/- 0.9 ng/ml; TxB2, 0.16 +/- 0.12 to 0.15 +/- 0.07 ng/ml). Plasma histamine was not involved in this type of reaction, but increased from 0.7-10.4 ng/ml in a fourth patient who became hypotensive without acute pulmonary hypertension, bronchoconstriction, or elevation of C5a or TxB2. The authors' data indicate that the generation of high plasma levels of C5a anaphylatoxins and thromboxane is associated with pulmonary vaso- and broncho-constriction induced by protamine reversal of heparin in humans.

Adult↗

Myocardial temperature variation: effect on regional function and coronary flow in dogs.

Incremental changes in the temperature (28-42.5 degrees C) of the anterior left ventricular wall in a canine, working, beating right heart bypass preparation (constant preload, afterload, and heart rate) were produced to measure the effect of regional temperature on myocardial function and blood flow. Circumferential-axis segment lengths were measured with sonomicrometry in both the temperature-varied, left-anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)-supplied myocardium and the normothermic (38 degrees C) circumflex-supplied myocardium. Fast thermistors (time constant less than 0.25 s) continuously monitored midmyocardial temperature in both areas. A Silastic loop with heat exchanger, thermistors, strain gauge, and flow probe was inserted into the LAD and allowed precise control of regional myocardial temperature. Nine-micron microspheres injected into left atrium were used to evaluate coronary flow and distribution. In six anesthetized dogs, relative to normothermic control (38 degrees C), regional systolic shortening decreased 42.2 +/- 10% at 41 degrees C and increased 23.3 +/- 6% at 31 degrees C. There was no significant change in coronary blood flow or distribution at the three temperatures. Pressure-length areas varied inversely with myocardial temperature. These data demonstrate that there is a reversible inverse relationship between midwall T and ventricular function when heart rate, preload, and after-load are controlled.

Animals↗

Local and neurally mediated effects of sufentanil on canine skeletal muscle vascular resistance.

The present study examines both the local and neurally mediated effects of sufentanil, a new synthetic opioid, on the vascular resistance of the isolated, separately perfused canine gracilis muscle. Infusions (50 micrograms/min) of sufentanil into the gracilis arteries of nine denervated gracilis muscles did not produce a direct vascular effect. Because morphine has been previously shown to produce a central sympatholytic effect, the neural effect of sufentanil was examined in 12 innervated muscles under conditions of either low or high background sympathetic activity produced by either hemorrhage or transfusion of the dog. After i.v. sufentanil (20 micrograms/kg), all dogs experienced a rapid parallel fall in gracilis vascular resistance (GVR) and mean arterial pressure. The GVR decreased under conditions of high and low sympathetic activity. With low sympathetic tone, the GVR decreased from a control value of 24.1 +/- 4.4 S.E.M. to 6.6 +/- 0.8 resistance units (RU), a value below the subsequently denervated level (13.2 +/- 2.5 RU) (P less than .05). In hemorrhaged animals with elevated control sympathetic tone, resistance declined from 38.4 +/- 9.1 to 26.1 +/- 4.4 RU (P less than .05) but did not reach the denervated level (12.4 +/- 2.7 RU). Local intra-arterial pharmacologic blockade of the gracilis muscle was performed in animals with low sympathetic tone. Intra-arterial atropine did not effect the neurogenic vasodilatory response to sufentanil, whereas prazosin abolished it. Intra-arterial H1 and H2 receptor blockade prevented the decline of GVR secondary to sufentanil below the denervated level. Thus, vasodilation associated with sufentanil administration is mediated solely through neurogenic mechanisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Cyclooxygenase blockade elevates leukotriene E4 production during acute anaphylaxis in sheep.

We examined changes in the levels of eicosanoids in blood and pulmonary lymph of anesthetized sheep undergoing acute anaphylaxis. Within 1-3 min of intravenous antigenic challenge of previously sensitized sheep, there were approximately 7-30-fold elevations in mean arterial plasma levels of thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, respectively, as measured by RIA. Negligible changes in levels of these cyclooxygenase products were found in both nonsensitized sheep and in sensitized sheep treated with indomethacin before antigenic challenge. In contrast, no changes in levels of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes (SPLT) in pulmonary lymph were detectable by RIA during anaphylaxis in sensitized or nonsensitized sheep, but levels of SPLT in indomethacin-treated sensitized sheep increased more than fivefold above levels in lymph from both other groups of animals. The immunoreactive SPLT in lymph from indomethacin-treated sheep was accounted for as LTE4, as demonstrated by mobility on HPLC and absorbance at 280 nm. These results support the possibility that certain undesirable effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as cardiopulmonary reactions in aspirin-sensitive individuals, and impaired renal and cardiac function during therapy with these drugs, may be related in part to augmented synthesis of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway products, especially those of the sulfidopeptide class. Increased LT production could also limit the antiinflammatory effectiveness of these drugs in many disease states.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗