Sialic acid is an indicator of inflammation due to cardiopulmonary bypass but not myocardial damage

Abstract

Background, The aim of the present study was to investigate whether serum sialic acid is associated with the inflammatory response of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or not, since cardiopulmonary bypass is known to produce a systemic inflammatory syndrome. Methods. In 20 patients in whom elective coronary bypass grafting was done, arterial and coronary sinus blood sampling was done simultaneously. The timing of samplings was 8-10 min after the institution of CPB, just before the application of aortic clamping (T1) and 2 min after cross clamp removal (T2), when there was coronary circulation, but no myocardial activation. Results Sialic acid, CK-MB, lactate levels were significantly higher at T2 than those at T1 for both arterial and coronary sinus samples. Increase at T2 time point for SA, CK-MB and lactic acid at coronary sinus were closely correlated with the systemic increase of these substances also. Actually, increase of systemic and coronary sinus CK-MB levels was also correlated with the duration of aortic cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass. Probably due to consumption, a negative correlation with the decrease of fibrinogen at coronary sinus was found with the duration of aortic cross-clamping. Conclusions. Our study showed a strong and consistent association between serum SA concentration and the inflammatory process. There are previous reports that show sialic acid levels associated with ischemic insult to myocardium. We are able to show that serum TSA correlates well with some of the acute phase proteins but this was not true with ischemic markers after cardioplegic arrest.