Continuous intravenous infusion of elastase in normal and agranulocytic minipigs--effects on the lungs and the blood coagulation system.

In order to investigate the acute effects on lung morphology, lung function, hemodynamic and blood coagulation system, elastase (330 units (U) kg-1 h-1) was continuously infused into 16 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated minipigs. Elastase infusion induced a disturbance of blood coagulation leading to hypocoagulability, a pulmonary leukostasis, interstitial edema, a progressive respiratory failure with prompt increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, decrease in systemic vascular resistance, increased venous admixture, and increased dead space ventilation. Agranulocytosis prevented interstitial edema but not disturbances in pulmonary or hemodynamic function or hypocoagulability. The results clearly indicate that elastase may be involved in the pathophysiology of acute lung failure and defects in the blood coagulation system.