Impact of cardiopulmonary bypass and surgical complexity on plasma soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor levels after cardiac surgery

Abstract

Background: Circulating soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a marker of inflammation with prognostic value for elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. It has not yet been shown how the inflammatory process induced by cardiac surgery affects suPAR concentrations postoperatively Methods: In a prospective observational study, plasma suPAR levels were measured in 30 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), pre-, peri, post-operatively, and 3–5 days after surgery. Fifteen patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 15 underwent complex procedures with longer CPB duration. Concentrations of suPAR at each time point were compared to the preoperative levels and compared between the two groups. Results: In both groups, plasma suPAR concentrations were significantly higher on the first postoperative day (3.27 (interquartile range (IQR) 2.75–3.86) µg/L compared to baseline (2.62 (1.98–3.86)) µg/L, p