Plasma interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interleukin-13 concentrations and complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether plasma interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-13 concentrations are associated with complications after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients during and 24 hours after CABG surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic measurements and blood samples were obtained from 32 patients during and after surgery. Coagulation, pulmonary, and cardiovascular functions were specifically assessed during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Plasma IL-4 and IL-13 levels remained unchanged during CABG surgery. In contrast, plasma IL-10 concentrations increased by 117-fold in the immediate postoperative period and returned to pre-CPB values by 24 hours postoperatively. Plasma IL-10 levels were not different in patients with or without cardiovascular impairment, coagulation disorders, and lung injury. Plasma IL-10 levels did not correlate with the leukocyte count, the amount of catecholamines infused, or the duration of CPB. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the development of post-CABG surgery complications might be linked to an insufficient production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-10, or IL-13, which are unable to counteract the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines.