Inpharma 1329 - 16 Mar 2002

■ Epoprostenol preserves renal function aftercoronary bypass surgery in high-risk patients, reportresearchers from Germany. 34 patients who had acardiac ejection fraction of < 40% and were scheduledto undergo coronary bypass surgery were randomisedto receive an infusion of epoprostenol [prostacyclin;‘Flolan’] 2 ng/kg/min commenced immediately beforesurgery and continued for ≤ 48 hours (n = 17), or nosuch treatment (controls). At 6 and 24 hours aftersurgery, mean creatinine clearance was significantlyreduced from baseline in controls, but remainedalmost stable in epoprostenol recipients. Epoprostenoladministration was associated with a significantincrease from baseline in the mean urine output 24hours after surgery; this parameter was unchanged incontrols. Furthermore, at 6 hours after surgery, thefractional excretion rate of sodium remainedunchanged from baseline in epoprostenol recipients,but was significantly increased in controls.Morgera S, et al. Low-dose prostacyclin preserves renal function in high-riskpatients after coronary bypass surgery. Critical Care Medicine 30: 107-112,Jan 2002 800896525

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Inpharma 16 Mar 2002 No. 13291173-8324/10/1329-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved