Enhanced anti-inflammatory effects by steroids in a porcine sepsis model

<正> BACKGROUND: INO also has an anti-inflammatory effect and inhibits the expression of many genes thought to be involved in inflammatory diseases. Another group of anti-inflammatory agents are the glucocorticoids (GCs). We hypothesized that there may be an interaction between inhalation of NO (INO) and systemic administration of glucocorticoid (GC) with enhanced antiinflammatory effect when administered together. METHODS: Three months old piglets (28-32 kg) were studied during anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. A sepsis-like condition was created by continuous iv infusion of endotoxin. Inhaled nitric oxide, steroid or steroid+INO were administrated in endotoxin exposed piglets. Hemodynamic and blood gas measurements were made every 90 min. At the end of the experiment, the pigs were killed and lung, liver and kidney tissue were taken for analysis of expressions of inflammatory markers by immnohistochemistry, and histology changes in these tissue were analyzed also. RESULTS: Endotoxin caused a severe in