Propofol Cardioprotection for Type II Diabetics

Diabetic patients are at elevated risk for low cardiac output syndrome. This high risk scenario adversely affects up to 26% of patients recovering from cardiac surgery. Aggressive hemodynamic treatments are required, but can prove inadequate. Low cardiac output syndrome can quadruple the overall mortality rate for aortocoronary bypass surgery from 2% to 8%. Therefore, an urgent need exists for effective forms of preemptive cardioprotection and antioxidant protection may play a crucial role. Our research into the therapeutic potential of propofol, an intravenous anesthetic with antioxidant properties, could have significant impact on outcome in this select population. The proposed study represents a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

RESEARCH PLAN

Two blinded, randomized controlled phase II studies will be conducted in patients undergoing primary aortocoronary bypass surgery.

STUDY A

Specific Aims:

1. To determine whether propofol increases nitric oxide bioavailability and decreases ET-1 formation in diabetic patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery
2. To determine whether propofol inhibits superoxide formation or downregulates iNOS gene expression in cardiac tissue.

Hypothesis:

Oxidant stress during myocardial reperfusion promotes the conversion of NO to the cardiotoxic free radical, peroxynitrite, and enhances the formation of the vasoconstrictor ET-1 in diabetic patients. We postulate that these factors cause postoperative cardiac dysfunction of the ischemic-reperfused diabetic heart.

STUDY B

Specific Aim:

To determine whether a high dose of intravenous insulin increases the effect of propofol on perioperative oxidative stress.

Hypothesis: Insulin, by preventing hyperglycemia, enhances propofol's effect on oxidative stress.

Methods

In Study A, 144 patients (72 patients with Type II DM + 72 patients with no DM) will be randomized to receive either propofol 120 ug/kg/min or isoflurane 0.5 to 2% for a treatment interval of 120 to 150 min (10 min before and during CPB, and for 15 min following aortic declamping). All patients will receive a continuous intravenous (I.V.) infusion of insulin as needed to maintain glucose levels at 8 to 12 mmol/L.

In Study B, 72 Type II diabetic patients will be randomized to isoflurane or propofol cardioprotection. All patients will be treated with the perioperative hyperinsulinemic clamp to maintain blood glucose levels within a target range of 4.5 - 6 mmol/L for up to 6 hours following release of aortic crossclamp.

Arterial and coronary sinus blood will be sampled simultaneously before initiation of CPB and at 5 min reperfusion for Troponin I, 15-F2t-isoP, nitrotyrosine and tyrosine, ET-1, and TNF-alpha. An index of myocardial derived 15-F2t-isoP and peroxynitrite will be determined from the Cs-Ao difference in percentage ratio of plasma free 15-F2t-isoP and nitrotyrosine to tyrosine, respectively.

Atrial tissue will be sampled before initiation of CPB and at 15min reperfusion for detection of iNOS, eNOS and superoxide formation. This will coincide with central venous blood sampling for measurement of the concentration of propofol.

The levels of 15-F2t-isoP, nitrotyrosine and tyrosine, ET-1, and TNF-alpha in blood will be determined at 2 hours postoperatively. Troponin I levels will be determined at 2, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Cardiac function will be assessed up to 6 hours postoperatively by pulmonary artery catheter and transesophageal echocardiography.

This study represents a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study on diabetic patients will provide the prerequisite knowledge for a randomized clinical trial powered to detect clinical outcomes in this high risk patient population.