Neutrophil Activation Subsequent to Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Sensitive Method for Determining Neutrophil Activation by Quantification of Lactoferrin Concentrations

Neutrophils have been implicated as contributors to the pathogenesis of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We report a method to quantify the extent of neutrophil activation during CPB through measuring the serum concentrations of lactoferrin. We developed a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantification oflactoferrin that is sensitive to 1 ng/ml. The preliminary data acquired to support this method confirm that there is a time-dependent increase in neutrophil activity during CPB. This was determined by measuring lactoferrin serum concentrations, and the lactoferrin concentrations appear to be higher in the pediatric patient compared to the adult patient.