Dexmedetomidine relieves oxidative stress and inflammatory damage after tourniquet-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury

Shen Peng-fei; Wang Bin; Xie Zi-kang; Zheng Chong; Qu Yu-xing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.16.006

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine has been shown to fight against ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by tourniquets. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of dexmedetomidine on the oxidative stress and inflammatory damage caused by tourniquet-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Seventy-six patients scheduled for lower limb operation were randomized into two groups: patients in dexmedetomidine group were given the intravenous injection of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine for 10 minutes, followed by 0.5 μg/kg?h until the end of operation; while the controls were subjected to 0.9% saline injection at an equivalent velocity and volume. The levels of serum propanediol, lactic dehydrogenase, superoxyde dismutase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and -8 were detected before tourniquet inflation, 10, 60 and 120 minutes after tourniquet release. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In both two groups, the serum levels of propanediol, lactic dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and -8 after tourniquet release were significantly higher and the serum superoxide dismutase level was significantly lower than those before tourniquet inflation (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the serum levels of propanediol, lactic dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and -8, and increased the serum superoxyde dismutase level after tourniquet release (P < 0.05). These results suggest that dexmedetomidine can attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammatory damage resulting from tourniquet-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury probably by up-regulating the serum superoxyde dismutase level, and down-regulating the serum levels of propanediol, lactic dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and -8.