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Systematic reaction to electrolytic treatment of pig livers in vivo
Author(s) -
Berry David,
Garcea Giuseppe,
Chong Chillton,
Silman Eric,
Finch Guy,
Dennison Ashley,
Maddern Guy J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2004.02986.x
Subject(s) - medicine , alkaline phosphatase , aspartate transaminase , transaminase , albumin , cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , in vivo , liver function tests , liver function , immunology , gastroenterology , enzyme , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Background: Only a minority of secondary liver tumours are amenable to segmental resection and as a result, considerable research has been focused on developing ablative methods to destroy liver metastases. Many of these methods are limited by the development of a systemic inflammatory response mediated by cytokines such as interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α). The aim of the present study was to determine if a systemic reaction occurred following electrolytic treatment of pig livers in vivo , by measuring biochemical indices of liver function and cytokines such as IL‐8 and TNF‐α. Methods: Seventeen white domestic pigs were subjected to varying electrolytic doses ranging from 100 C to 800 C. Blood samples were taken at hourly intervals before, during and after electrolysis. Blood parameters measured included markers of liver enzyme activity; albumin, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutaryl transferase and aspartate transaminase. Cytokine response to electrolysis was measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays for IL‐8 and TNF‐α. Results: Aspartate transaminase levels showed a clear and progressive rise post‐electrolysis peaking at 2 h post‐procedure. IL‐8 and TNF‐α levels showed only very mild variation with no significant response to electrolysis. This lack of association was borne out regardless of the electrolytic dose administered. Conclusion: Electrolysis is not accompanied by a significant systemic inflammatory response, reducing the risk of systemic inflammatory response, acute respiratory distress syndrome and other immune response mediated end‐organ damage. Follow‐up studies are needed in human trials.