Dextran-70 to modulate inflammatory response after cardiopulmonary bypass: potential for a novel approach?

Potential deleterious effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic cardiac arrest are known to influence outcome. The inflammatory response after CPB may have unfavourable effects especially in high-risk patients, for example, the very elderly. Thus, to blunt the release of pro-inflammatory mediators seems to be a promising approach. So far, numerous attempts at immune modulation have been performed. However, the management of cardiac surgery patients needs further improvement. In this context, Gombocz and colleagues investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of dextran-70. Their results suggest that compared to gelatine, dextran-70 reduces the inflammatory response in patients after CPB.