Cardiopulmonary bypass increases plasma bradykinin concentrations.

An increase of bradykinin (BK) plasma levels together with the activation coagulation cascade, fibrinolysis, complement and cytokines was observed during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Since the procedure of extracorporeal circulation completely excludes the lung, the major site of BK catabolism, our data suggest that a reduced catabolism could contribute to the increase of BK during CPB.