Inflammatory response leading to organ dysfunction and failure continues to be the major problem after injury in many clinical conditions such as sepsis, severe burns, acute pancreatitis, haemorrhagic shock, and trauma. In general terms, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is an entirely normal response to injury. Systemic leukocyte activation, however, is a direct consequence of a SIRS and if excessive, can lead to distant organ damage and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). When SIRS leads to MODS and organ failure, the mortality becomes high and can be more than 50%. Acute lung injury that clinically manifests as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major component of MODS of various aetiologies. Inflammatory mediators play a key role in the pathogenesis of ARDS, which is the primary cause of death in these conditions. This review summarizes recent studies that demonstrate the critical role played by inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, platelet activating factor (PAF), IL-10, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), C5a, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, substance P, chemokines, VEGF, IGF-I, KGF, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the pathogenesis of ARDS. It is reasonable to speculate that elucidation of the key mediators in ARDS coupled with the discovery of specific inhibitors would make it possible to develop clinically effective anti-inflammatory therapy.

Role of inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/S0014-5793%2800%2902197-9

Hydrogen peroxide in the human body.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disease leading to right heart failure and ultimately death if untreated. The first classification of PH was proposed in 1973. In 2008, the fourth World Symposium on PH held in Dana Point (California, USA) revised previous classifications. Currently, PH is devided into five subgroups. Group 1 includes patients suffering from idiopathic or familial PAH with or without germline mutations. Patients with a diagnosis of PAH should systematically been screened regarding to underlying mutations of BMPR2 gene (bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2) or more rarely of ACVRL1 (activine receptor-like kinase type 1), ENG (endogline) or Smad8 genes. Pulmonary veno occusive disease and pulmonary capillary hemagiomatosis are individualized and designated as clinical group 1'. Group 2 'Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart diseases' is divided into three sub-groups: systolic dysfonction, diastolic dysfonction and valvular dysfonction. Group 3 'Pulmonary hypertension due to respiratory diseases' includes a heterogenous subgroup of respiratory diseases like PH due to pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, lung emphysema or interstitial lung disease for exemple. Group 4 includes chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension without any distinction of proximal or distal forms. Group 5 regroup PH patients with unclear multifactorial mechanisms. Invasive hemodynamic assessment with right heart catheterization is requested to confirm the definite diagnosis of PH showing a resting mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of ≥ 25 mmHg and a normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≤ 15 mmHg. The assessment of PCWP may allow the distinction between pre-capillary and post-capillary PH (PCWP > 15 mmHg). Echocardiography is an important tool in the management of patients with underlying suspicion of PH. The European Society of Cardiology and the European Respiratory Society (ESC-ERS) guidelines specify its role, essentially in the screening proposing criteria for estimating the presence of PH mainly based on tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity and systolic artery pressure (sPAP). The therapy of PAH consists of non-specific drugs including oral anticoagulation and diuretics as well as PAH specific therapy. Diuretics are one of the most important treatment in the setting of PH because right heart failure leads to fluid retention, hepatic congestion, ascites and peripheral edema. Current recommendations propose oral anticoagulation aiming for targeting an International Normalized Ratio (INR) between 1.5-2.5. Target INR for patients displaying chronic thromboembolic PH is between 2–3. Better understanding in pathophysiological mechanisms of PH over the past quarter of a century has led to the development of medical therapeutics, even though no cure for PAH exists. Several specific therapeutic agents were developed for the medical management of PAH including prostanoids (epoprostenol, trepoprostenil, iloprost), endothelin receptor antagonists (bosentan, ambrisentan) and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil). This review discusses the current state of art regarding to epidemiologic aspects of PH, diagnostic approaches and the current classification of PH. In addition, currently available specific PAH therapy is discussed as well as future treatments.

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Major Pulmonary Embolism: Review of a Pathophysiologic Approach to the Golden Hour of Hemodynamically Significant Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the most characteristic group of pulmonary hypertensive states. Among other conditions, PAH includes the idiopathic type and forms associated with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), particularly with systemic sclerosis, CREST syndrome, and mixed CTD. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can be detected by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. This procedure should be performed routinely once a year in patients with CTD with high risk to develop PAH. The diagnosis of PH needs to be confirmed by right heart catheterization. Recently developed drugs that modulate endothelial function have provided encouraging results in the treatment of PAH with improvement in symptoms, exercise tolerance, and survival.

/pdf/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension-3gg1fg1p7t.pdf

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Norepinephrine and Phenylephrine Effects on Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Canine Pulmonary Embolism

Urine Hydrogen Peroxide During Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Patients With and Without Sepsis

BACKGROUND Hemodilution (HD) with oxyhemoglobin colloid (oxyHb) provides a greater arterial oxygen content (CaO2) than HD with conventional colloids; however, oxygen delivery (DO2) is essentially the same, because, in contrast to conventional HD, cardiac output (CO) is not augmented. This study seeks to elucidate the mechanism that limits CO during oxyHb-HD and to test whether infusion of a nitric oxide (NO) donor would augment DO2, because oxyHb is known to inactivate in vitro endothelial-derived NO. METHODS Anesthetized dogs were isovolemically hemodiluted with 10% oxyHb, 8% albumin, or 10% methemoglobin (weak NO inactivator) to 20% hematocrit. After HD, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was titrated intravenously until decreases (> 10 mmHg) in mean aortic pressure (Pao) indicated the presence of exogenous NO. Systemic hemodynamics and regional blood flows (microsphere method) were measured. RESULTS Albumin-HD and metHb-HD produced typical HD-mediated responses: increased CO (63-65%), slight decreases (13-15%) in DO2, decreases in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) proportional to the decreases (49-52%) in blood viscosity of all three groups, and increased regional blood flows (RBF). Responses to oxyHb-HD were atypical: CO and its determinants were not changed, DO2 decreased (23%) proportional to CaO2, and SVR and most RBF were not changed except for a net redistribution of CO to myocardium and skeletal muscle. In albumin-HD or metHb-HD, SNP (2-5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) induced comparable decreases in mean Pao (29-37%) and SVR (39-41%); however, CO, RBF, and DO2 were not affected. In oxyHb-HD, exceptionally large doses of SNP (54 +/- 5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) decreased mean Pao only 19 +/- 1%; however, CO increased 78 +/- 5% and decreases (61 +/- 3%) in SVR were slightly greater than viscosity reductions. Other determinants of CO were not affected. Most RBF increased proportional to CO; there was, however, preferential distribution to myocardium and skeletal muscle. Consequently, the augmented CO, and CaO2 of oxyHb-HD, produced large increases in DO2, 77 +/- 5% from HD alone and 43 +/- 3% from prehemodilution values. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that the limited CO and DO2 of oxyHb-HD resulted from opposing changes in two determinants of flow, i.e., reduced blood viscosity and increased arterial resistance (vasoconstriction). The vasoconstriction was not evident with metHb-HD and was reversed by the SNP infusion, indicating that oxyHb inactivated in vivo endothelial-derived NO. The ability of the NO donor (SNP) to facilitate large viscosity-mediated increases in DO2 during oxyHb-HD is an important finding that could potentially render oxyHb colloids more useful than conventional colloids, particularly for the individual with a compromised circulation who would benefit from an increased oxygen supply.

Hemodilution with Oxyhemoglobin Mechanism of Oxygen Delivery and Its Superaugmentation with a Nitric Oxide Donor (Sodium Nitroprusside)

This study used left ventricular pressure-volume (conductance) relationships to separate the effects of calcium administration on myocardial performance and peripheral vasoconstriction in normocalcemic and hypocalcemic states. Hypocalcemia was produced in anesthetized dogs with intravenous citrate-phosphate-dextrose until serum [Ca2+] was approximately 0.7 mmol/L. Calcium (CaCl2) bolus (5 mg/kg) was administered during normocalcemia (n = 6) and hypocalcemia (n = 6), and data were collected at 1, 5 and 10 min after CaCl2 administration. During normocalcemia, CaCl2 administration increased [Ca2+] 19% at 1 min and was accompanied by a 47% (P < 0.05) decrease in left ventricular contractility (i.e., end-systolic elastance or E(lves)) and a 13% (P < 0.05) increase in systemic vascular resistance. At 5 and 10 min, serum [Ca2+] and the hemodynamic variables began to return to the baseline values. During hypocalcemia, E(lves) decreased 25% (P < 0.05), but after CaCl2 bolus, it increased to baseline levels and remained there during the 10-min period. Hypocalcemia and the CaCl2 bolus did not significantly affect SVR. In conclusion, these studies suggest that the indications for the use of calcium should depend on the initial serum level of ionized calcium.

Separation of myocardial versus peripheral effects of calcium administration in normocalcemic and hypocalcemic states using pressure-volume (conductance) relationships.

Leroy J. Hirsch

Papers

Norepinephrine and Phenylephrine Effects on Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Canine Pulmonary Embolism

Urine Hydrogen Peroxide During Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Patients With and Without Sepsis

Hemodilution with Oxyhemoglobin Mechanism of Oxygen Delivery and Its Superaugmentation with a Nitric Oxide Donor (Sodium Nitroprusside)

Separation of myocardial versus peripheral effects of calcium administration in normocalcemic and hypocalcemic states using pressure-volume (conductance) relationships.

Effects of fentanyl on coronary blood flow distribution and myocardial oxygen consumption in the dog