Venous Air Embolism Activates Complement C3 Without Corresponding C5 Activation and Trigger Thromboinflammation in Pigs.

Air embolism may complicate invasive medical procedures. Bubbles trigger complement C3-mediated cytokine release, coagulation, and platelet activation Forty-five landrace pigs, average 17 kg (range 8.5-30), underwent intravenous air infusion for 300 or 360 minutes (n=29) or served as sham (n=14). Fourteen pigs were excluded due to e.g. infections or persistent foramen ovale. Blood was analyzed for white blood cells (WBC), complement activation (C3a and terminal C5b-9 complement complex [TCC]), cytokines, and hemostatic parameters including thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) using immunoassays and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Lung tissue was analyzed for complement and cytokines using qPCR and immunoassays. Results are presented as medians with interquartile range. In 24 pigs receiving air infusion, WBC increased from 17×10 Venous air embolism in pigs activated C3 without a corresponding C5 activation and triggered thromboinflammation, consistent with a C3-dependent mechanism. C3-inhibition might represent a therapeutic approach to attenuate this response.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2022 Storm, Ludviksen, Christiansen, Fure, Pettersen, Landsem, Nilsen, Dybwik, Braaten, Nielsen and Mollnes.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.