The impact of acute lung injury, ECMO and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels in an ovine model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of smoke induced acute lung injury (S-ALI), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels. Forty ewes were divided into (i) healthy control (. n=. 4), (ii) S-ALI control (. n=. 7), (iii) ECMO control (. n=. 7), (iv) S-ALI. +. ECMO (. n=. 8) and (v) S-ALI. +. ECMO. +. packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion (. n=. 14). Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were analysed at baseline, after smoke injury (or sham) and 0.25, 1, 2, 6, 7, 12 and 24. h after initiation of ECMO. Peak TBARS levels were similar across all groups. Plasma selenium decreased by 54% in S-ALI sheep (1.36. ±. 0.20 to 0.63. ±. 0.27. μmol/L, p