Cell Adhesion and Tissue Factor Upregulation in Oxygenators used during Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting are Modified by the Corline Heparin Surface

OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with inflammatory response and activation of coagulation. We investigated the influence of a new heparin surface on the activation of cells retrieved from oxygenators used during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Sixty patients undergoing CABG with CPB were randomly assigned to either uncoated or completely Corline Heparin Surface (CHS)-coated circuits with one of three different levels of systemic heparin: standard, high or low. At end of surgery adhered cells were retrieved from the oxygenators and cell count, tissue factor (TF)- and CD11b-expression on monocytes and monocytic TFmRNA were analysed. RESULTS: The heparin coating of the oxygenator prevented adhesion of granulocytes, monocytes and platelets. TF-expression on monocytes from the oxygenators was significantly higher than on circulating cells in all groups. Monocytes from the uncoated oxygenators showed low levels of TF-expression with high levels of TFmRNA. The coated group with high level of heparin showed higher surface-expression of TF with low levels of TFmRNA. CONCLUSION: The CHS was most biocompatible with the standard level of heparin used during CABG whereas elevation of systemic heparin rather increased the activation and TF upregulation in monocytes from oxygenators.