Acetaminophen Attenuates Pulmonary Vascular Resistance and Pulmonary Arterial Pressure and Inhibits Cardiovascular Collapse in a Porcine Model of Endotoxemia

• Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is often used in critically ill patients with fever and pain; however, little is known about the effects of acetaminophen on cardiovascular function during systemic inflammation. Here, we investigated the effect of acetaminophen on changes in the systemic and pulmonary circulation induced by endotoxin (0.5 μg/kg/h) in anesthetized pigs. Endotoxin infusion led to a rapid increase in pulmonary artery (PA)-pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI). Acetaminophen delayed and attenuated this increase. Furthermore, acetaminophen reduced tachycardia and decreased stroke volume, accompanied by systemic inflammation, without affecting inflammatory parameters such as white blood cell count and TNF-α in blood. As a proof of concept, we injected a high dose of endotoxin (100 μg), which induced rapid cardiovascular collapse in pigs. Pigs treated with acetaminophen survived with no obvious hemodynamic instability during the 50 min observation period. In conclusion, acetaminophen attenuates the effects of endotoxin on pulmonary circulation in anesthetized pigs. This may play a role in severe systemic inflammation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Acetaminophen

cardiovascular

endotoxin

inflammation

MPAP

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)