PaO(2) greater than 300 mmHg promotes an inflammatory response during extracorporeal circulation in a rat extracorporeal membrane oxygenation model

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is being increasingly used for mechanical support of respiratory and cardio-circulatory failure. An excessive systemic inflammatory response is observed during sepsis and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with similar clinical features. We hypothesized that hyperoxia condition encourages the systemic inflammatory response and organ disorder during ECMO. To prove this hypothesis correct, we investigated the systemic inflammatory responses at normal and high levels of arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2)) in the rat ECMO model. METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups depending on the value of PaO(2) during ECMO: A group (n=11, PaO(2) 100–199 mmHg), B group (n=10, PaO(2) 200–299 mmHg), C group (n=8, PaO(2) 300–399 mmHg), and D group (n=11, PaO(2) >400 mmHg). Serum cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were measured before, 60, and 120 min after the initiation of ECMO. The wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio of the left lung was also measured, and dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, reflecting superoxide generation, of lung and liver tissues was performed 120 min after ECMO initiation. RESULTS: In the C and D groups, the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) significantly increased during ECMO compared with the other groups. On the other hand, the increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) was more suppressed in the C and D groups than in the other groups. The W/D ratio increased significantly more in the C and D groups than in the other groups. In addition, DHE fluorescence had a tendency to increase as the PaO(2) rose. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that it is better to avoid administration of too much oxygen during ECMO to attenuate lung injury linked to generation of superoxide and the systemic inflammatory response.