In-Vitro Effects Of Two Different Preparations Of Propofol On Phagocytosis And Respiratory Burst In Human Pmn And Monocytes

 

S Schraag, E Barth, S Voglic, M Weiss, M Georgieff

 

Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany

 

Background and Goal of study: Intravenous anaesthetics and sedatives can influence polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) functions [2]. There is evidence that propofol with disodium edetate (EDTA) used for sedation may reduce mortality in critically ill ICU patients [2]. We tested whether Propofol with EDTA would influence PMN and monocyte function in vitro compared to Propofol without EDTA.

 

Materials and Methods:

Heparinized full blood samples were taken from six healthy male volunteers (age 30-35 years). From each volunteer, 2 ml of full blood was incubated with 10 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml Propofol with or without 0.005% disodium edetate, respectively, for 60 minutes. PBS was used as a control. Phagocytic and respiratory burst activity of PMN and monocytes was obtained by flow cytometry using a commercial test kit (PhagoBurst-Test, OrpegenÓ Pharma, Heidelberg, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney-U test with a significance level of a<0.05.

 

Results and Discussion:

In accordance with previous findings we observed a trend in suppression of phagocytic and respiratory burst activity of PMN and monocytes by increasing concentrations of Propofol. The addition of Na2EDTA to propofol, however, did not provoke any significant change (table).

 

 

PMN

 

 

Phagozytosis

Burst

Propofol

10 µg/ml

100 µg/ml

10 µg/ml

100 µg/ml

-EDTA

2025

2147

645.5

428.7425

 

(1603, 2108)

(1885, 2239)

(528, 1542)

(289, 1305)

+EDTA

2145

2036

683.645

586.2625

 

(1656, 2299)

(1808, 2246)

(421, 1518)

(403, 1236)

 

p = 0,34

p = 0,75

p = 1,0

p = 0,63

 

Values are given as median with interquartil range. The results and trends were similar for monocytes.

 

Conclusion:

We conclude that the addition of disodium edetate to Propofol in the new formulation of DiprivanÒ (AstraZeneca) has neither a beneficial nor a negative effect on phagocytic and respiratory burst activity of PMN and monocytes. However, these results have to be further validated in critically ill patients.

 

References:

[1]  Weiss M et al. Immunpharmacol Immunotoxicol 1996;18:291-307

[2]  Herr DL et al. Intensive Care Med 2000 ;26 :S452-S462