Effects of olprinone on IL-6 and IL-10 production during and after cardiac surgery

Phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEI) has been accepted as an inodilator with positive inotoropic and vasodilating actions. Recently many new PDEIS have been available for the treatment of heart failure. We investigated the effect of a new PDEI-III agent, olprinone, on IL-6 and IL-10 production during and after coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). Twelve patients scheduled for CABG were assigned to 2 groups. In 6 patients (Group-O), olprinone was administered continuously for 30 minutes at a rate of 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 (gamma) after the anesthesia induction. Then, the infusion rate of olprinone was decreased to 0.2 gamma and it was kept until the 3rd post-operative day. In another 6 patients (Group-C), phentolamine was used for vasodilator instead of olprinone. The plasma levels of IL-6 in Group-O did not show any significant change during perioperative period, whereas those in Group-C reached the peak at the end of extracorporeal circulation and did not recover to control level until the 3rd post-operative day. The plasma levels of IL-10 in Group-O increased to the maximum level at the end of extra-corporeal circulation and were significantly higher than those in Group-C. It is suggested that olprinone has not only inodilating action but also anti-inflammatory action at therapeutic concentrations used for heart failure.