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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Animals, Antithrombins, Arterioles, Cell Adhesion, Cell Communication, Circadian Rhythm, Cricetinae, Disease Models, Animal, Electrocardiography, Endothelium, Vascular, Extracorporeal Circulation, Hemodynamics, Hirudins, Leukocytes, Mesocricetus, Microcirculation, Muscle, Smooth, Vascular, Time Factors, Venules.
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Does hirudin protect from leukocyte/endothelial cell interaction induced by extracorporeal circulation? Context: The clinical complications of Extracorporeal Circulation (ECC) have been linked to disturbances in the microcirculation. In order to prevent these deleterious effects, a biodegradeable agent to coat the extracorporeal circuit was tested. Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used on the hamster skinfold chamber model in permanently instrumented, awake animals. ECC was introduced via a micro-roller-pump and a silicon tube shunted between the carotid artery and the jugular vein. The ECC-tube system was coated with PEG-Hirudin-Iloprost, two additional groups received either Iloprost i.v. (0.8 mg/kg/h) or Hirudin i.v. (1 mg/kg b.w.). ECC for 20 minutes resulted in an increase in rolling and adherent leukocytes in postcapillary venules (Roller 9 to 36 [%]; Sticker 24 to 330 [n/mm2]). Use of the coated tube system reduced L/E cell interaction (Roller 9 to 24* [%], Sticker 28 to 194* [n/mm2]; *p<0.05), whereas Hirudin i.v. nearly abolished it.
assistant
The protective effects of the coating and of Hirudin i.v are probably a result of an attenuated activation of the coagulation-fibrinolytic system. Final Decision: yes