THE hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solutions currently under investigation have oxygen transport and exchange properties similar to blood. However, their cardiovascular effects are still a subject of controversy. In particular, there have been several reports of extensive vasonconstriction, 1–4and several authors have suggested that this effect may be deleterious for the myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease. 5,6
Case Report
A 64 yr-old man with abdominal aortic occlusive disease was admitted for an occlusion of the right lower limb of an aortobifemoral graft. The patient had previously undergone several radiologic and surgical lower-limb revascularization procedures. The patient reported an uncomplicated myocardial infarction after a previous aortobifemoral grafting procedure. However, there was no subsequent angina or cardiac insufficiency. On admission, his electrocardiogram showed a atrial fibrillation longstanding with a ventricular rate of 90 beats/min. Intravenous heparin was started but was complicated by a significant lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage leading to a decrease in hemoglobin concentration from 15.5 to 11.7 g/dl. Endoscopic exploration of the gastrointestinal tract failed to reveal a precise cause, but bleeding ceased. The patient was scheduled for a revision aortobifemoral graft.
Before surgery, the patient was enrolled in a randomized, single-blind, erythrocyte-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of an hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC-201). The patient was informed of all risks and potential benefits, and written informed consent was obtained. The patient was not enrolled in a predonation program and was not treated with erythropoietin.
Anesthesia was induced using titrated doses of fentanyl, propofol, and atracurium. A pulmonary artery catheter was inserted, revealing high pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (25 mmHg). Anesthesia was maintained using a continuous infusion of propofol and intermittent fentanyl. Surgery was uneventful until aortic cross-clamping. During cross-clamping, the patient developed progressive systolic and diastolic hypotension to 80/50 mmHg (fig. 1) associated with new 2-mm ST-T segment depression on monitored standard leads II and V5. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure remained at 25 mmHg. A dobuta-mine (6 μg · kg−1· min−1) and nitroglycerin (0.5 μg · kg−1· min−1) infusion was started. Blood pressure and heart rate increased (fig. 1) but with no improvement in ST-segment depression. Hemoglobin concentration at this point was 7.6 g/dl, and the decision to transfuse blood was made. In accordance with the trial protocol, the patient was randomly assigned to receive 60 g (500 ml) of HBOC-201. After the start of the infusion, systemic arterial blood pressure slightly increased and heart rate decreased with rapid normalization of the ST-T segment (fig. 1). Dobutamine and nitroglycerin infusions were stopped, and surgery was completed. During the postoperative period, recurrent tachycardia and ST-T changes were successfully treated by a second infusion of 30 g HBOC-201. On postoperative day 1, total hemoglobin was 11.3 g/dl with a plasma-free hemoglobin level of 2.2 g/dl. Troponin Ic levels remained normal, and the patient was discharged to the ward. On postoperative day 6, a new episode of gastrointestinal hemorrhage was observed. Total hemoglobin decreased from 9.0 to 7.4 g/dl, and 60 g HBOC-201 was infused without adverse events. Reexploration of the gastrointestinal tract revealed four small benign rectal polyps that were removed.
On postoperative day 2, moderate jaundice with a transient increase in AST (493 UI/l; normal values = 15–48 UI/l), ALT (121 UI/l; normal values = 10–40 UI/l), and lipase (120 UI/l; normal values = 7–60 UI/l) was noted. These returned to baseline within 3 days, without clinical or ultrasound evidence of hepatic or pancreatic lesion. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 28 with a hematocrit of 37% and total hemoglobin of 11.6 g/dl without receiving allogenic packed erythrocytes or erythropoietin therapy.
Discussion
Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier 201 is an intravenous solution of glutaraldehyde-polymerized bovine hemoglobin. Cardiovascular effects of HBOC-201 are still a subject of controversy because it has been demonstrated that isovolumic exchange during acute normovolemic hemodilution may result in decreased cardiac output associated with peripheral vasoconstriction. 3,4Several investigators have stressed that this effect may be deleterious, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. 5,6
This high-risk patient with cardiac and vascular disease experienced intraoperative myocardial ischemia likely related to anemia, hypotension, and tachycardia. The infusion of HBOC-201 led to a rapid hemodynamic improvement with normalization of ST-T segment abnormalities. This beneficial effect may have been related either to the cardiovascular effects of HBOC-201 or to its ability to improve tissue oxygenation.
Hemoglobin-induced vasoconstriction may result in reduced blood flow to vital organs and severe pulmonary hypertension. 7It has been suggested that this vasoconstrictive effect may be mediated in part by endothelin, inhibition of nitric oxide, and sensitization of peripheral α receptors. 8The magnitude of this vasoconstrictive effect seems to be attenuated by polymerization of hemoglobin either by glutaraldehyde 9as HBOC-201 or o -raffinose. 10The effect of polymerization is likely caused by surface modification and/or intramolecular cross-linking, rather than an increase in molecular size limiting extravasation. 9The consequences of the vasoconstrictive effect of HBOC on coronary circulation is also unclear. Early studies performed with incompletely purified hemoglobin solutions described coronary vasoconstriction. 11–13More recent studies 14,15have used modified, highly purified, and heat pasteurized hemoglobin-based solutions (diaspirin cross-linked). Infusion of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin increases blood pressure as well as blood flow to the myocardium and gastrointestinal tract. An endothelin receptor antagonist (phosphoramidon) could attenuate the systemic hemodynamic effects and some regional circulatory effects of diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin. However, the increase in blood flow to the myocardium could not be modified by an endothelin receptor antagonist. Accordingly, in our case report, it may be suggested that cardiovascular effects of HBOC-201 may have contributed to the improvement in the hemodynamic status of the patient by increasing arterial pressure, coronary perfusion pressure, and decreasing heart rate. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the same effects could have been accomplished with another colloid.
In addition, when compared with blood, HBOCs could improve tissue oxygenation more significantly. Standl et al. 16compared the effects of stored erythrocytes, freshly donated blood, and HBOC-201 on muscular tissue oxygenation after extreme isovolemic hemodilution in a canine model. At a hematocrit of 10%, skeletal muscle tissue oxygen tension was decreased by approximately 50%. After transfusion, an increase of 0.7 g/dl of hemoglobin using HBOC-201 resulted in restoration of baseline tissue oxygenation. An increase in hemoglobin of 2.7 and 2.1 g/dl with fresh and stored blood, respectively, were needed to restore normal tissue oxygenation. These results demonstrate a higher oxygenation potential of HBOC as compared with fresh or stored erythrocytes in relation with better oxygen extraction. 16The right shift of the oxygen–hemoglobin dissociation curve (P5032–35 mmHg) and a better distribution of blood oxygen-carrying capacity at the microcirculatory level are the main mechanisms explaining the improvement of tissue oxygenation. 17,18Whether this played a role in the event observed in our patient is unknown.
In this patient, infusion of HBOC-201 was followed by a mild increase of AST, ALT, and lipase levels. However, there were not clinically significant and returned to baseline values rapidly. Such alterations have been reported in patients exposed to HBOC-201 in previous phase I and II studies, but its clinical relevance remains unknown. The increase in AST was greater than that of ALT and could also be related, in part, to the surgical procedure. The jaundice is explained by the interstitial diffusion and catabolism of the free hemoglobin.