Significance of Interferon-γ in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

BACKGROUND: Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is produced by activated natural killer and T cells under pathologic circumstances. The objective of our study was to compare the level of IFN-γ in open and endoscopic methods of vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). METHOD: Ninety samples of human saphenous veins harvested from patients prepared for CABG. Pre- and post-procedure sera of the patients, in addition to super-natants of 3-day endothelial cell culture, were analyzed for IFN-γ. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IFN-γ level (0.09 ± 0.03 pg/mL) and that for postoperative sera (0.08 ± 0.02 pg/mL) were not significantly different (P = 0.2). The mean IFN-γ level in endothelial cell culture from the endoscopic (0.18 ± 0.21 pg/mL) and the open method (0.19 ± 0.39 pg/mL) were not significant (P = 0.89). CONCLUSION: We recommend the endoscopic method of vein harvesting because of its lower morbidity and earlier hospital discharge.