ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the effect of ulinastatin on anti-inflammation and pulmonary function protection with its mechanism for infants at cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Methods: A total of 38 infants with ventricular septal defect undergoing cardiac operation were randomly divided into 2 groups. Ulinastatin group, the patients received uliastatin 20 000 U/kg,n=20 and Control group, the patients received the same volume of normal saline,n=18. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-l0 were examined at 4 time points: 5 min before skin incision (T1), immediate opening of aorta (T2), 4 hours after operation (T3) and 24 hours after operation (T4). The expressions of CD4+CD45+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells were measured at T4. The respiratory index and oxygenation index at 4 time points were compared between 2 groups. Results: Compared with Control group, Ulinastatin group had the lower levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and higher level of IL-l0 at T2, T3, T4; Ulinastatin group also had the higher oxygenation index and lower respiratory index at T2, T3, T4, allP<0.05. Ulinastatin group had less expression of CD4+CD45+ T cells (35.98 ± 3.67)% than Control group (41.94 ± 4.56)% , and more expression of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells (19.65 ± 3.45)% than Control group (6.45 ± 1.47)%,P<0.05-P<0.01. Conclusion: Ulinastatin may improve the differentiation from CD4+CD45+ T cell to Foxp3+CD4+ T cell, down regulating inlfammatory response and protecting pulmonary function for infants at cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.