Effect of albumin treatment on gas exchange efficiency and organ edema in endotoxemic rats
Article
Camacho, MT, Totapally, BR, Torbati, D et al. (1999). Effect of albumin treatment on gas exchange efficiency and organ edema in endotoxemic rats
. CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 27(12 SUPPL.), A95. 10.1097/00003246-199912001-00249
Camacho, MT, Totapally, BR, Torbati, D et al. (1999). Effect of albumin treatment on gas exchange efficiency and organ edema in endotoxemic rats
. CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 27(12 SUPPL.), A95. 10.1097/00003246-199912001-00249
Introduction: We tested the hypothesis that increased blood colloid osmotic pressure (COP) may improve gas exchange and prevent organ's edema during early endotoxemia. Methods: Male rats were anesthetized, tracheotomized, and instrumented for i.v. infusion, arterial blood sampling, and MAP recording. Anesthesia (15 mg/kg/h pentobarbitol), normothermia, and fluid balance (5 ml/kg/h) were maintained for six hours. Gas exchange variables, COP, heart rate, and MAP were determined at 0 time (baseline) and 2, 4, and 6hours in 4 groups of 10 rats each: Albumin- or saline-treated rats (groups 1 & 2) were given either 1 g/kg 25% human albumin or equivalent volume of saline at 0, 2, and 4hour period. Groups 3 & 4 were treated with a single dose of 4 mg/kg endotoxin at zero time and received albumin and saline as in groups 1 & 2. Postmortem, various organs were removed for determination of water content. Results: Endotoxemic rats developed significant reductions in COP and increases in the lung, heart, and kidney water contents (compared to albumin- or saline-treated groups without endotoxemia by ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparision test). Endotoxemic rats, treated with albumin, developed significant increases in the alveolar-arterial gradient (65%) and had significantly higher water content in the lungs, compared to other groups (79 ± 0.7 in albumin and saline treated rats without endotoxemia; 80.9 ± 0.8 in saline-treated rats with endotoxemia; 82.2 ± 0.8 in albumin-treated rats with endotoxemia). Albumin infusion, in rats without endotoxemia, increased COP by 55% without affecting gas exchange efficiency or organ's water content compared to saline-treated non-endotoxemic group. Conclusions: The data reject our hypothesis, indicating deleterious effects of albumin treatment, during early phases of endotoxemia in rats.
