Circulating neuropeptide Y in humans: relation to changes in catecholamine levels and changes in hemodynamics.

Neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is a sympathetic cotransmitter, which causes vasoconstriction, decreases coronary blood flow and decreases cardiac output. Circulating immunoreactive NPY (ir-NPY) levels increase with exercise, in patients admitted to the coronary care unit, and during thoracic surgery, and may play a role in postoperative hemodynamics. We studied changes in ir-NPY, epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) arterial plasma levels, and their correlation to simultaneous hemodynamic measurements at 8 perioperative time points in 13 patients undergoing open heart surgery.

Comparison of thromboxane synthetase inhibitor and methylprednisolone effects on protamine responses in dogs.

Neutralization of heparin anticoagulation by protamine produces catastrophic hemodynamic reactions in some patients. Using a canine model, we tested effects of thromboxane synthetase inhibition (CGS-13080) and glucocorticoid pretreatment on the cardiorespiratory effects of protamine. In control dogs, protamine decreased mean arterial pressure and cardiac output and increased mean pulmonary artery pressure, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances (SVR, PVR), and airway pressure.