Cyclohexanone Impairs Heart Function in Rats
Researchers at John Hopkins University found that cyclohexanone, which is commonly found in varying amount in IV bags and catheters, impairs heart function in rats. This research suggests reasons why side effects such as short term memory loss and loss of taste are experienced after procedures that involve cycling fluid into the blood from plastic tubing. Coronary bypass patients often complain of swelling and fatigue, which this research suggests may be caused by chemicals that leached out of plastics used in the procedure. While these side effects are usually not severe and do not usually hinder recovery by a significant degree, the discovery is interesting in the way it pertains to our class as we study cardiac pathology. Granted, it also has implications for the future of the biomedical plastics industry.
The research was inspired by the experience of John Hopkins' Artin Shoukas, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, physiology and anesthesiology and critical care medicine, following his own experience with the side effects that ensued from his coronary bypass surgery. He and his team developed the theory that the side effects could be due to a chemical substance in the equipment or fluids used for the operation. Upon testing samples from IV bags, they found that all of them contained cyclohexanone.
They tested the cyclohexanone by injecting rats with saline solution and with saline solution plus cyclohexanone. Rats that received the saline had stroke volumes of 200 uL and heart rates of 358 bpm. Rats that received saline with cyclohexanone had stroke volumes of 150 uL and heart rates of 287 bpm. Using what we learned in class, we see that the cardiac outputs (heart rate times stroke volume) are 71.6 mL/min and 43.05 mL/min, respectively. (Ha, told you this article was relevant!) Thus, the rats that received the cyclohexanone had reduced cardiac output by about 40%. The research team also calculated that the rats that received cyclohexanone had weaker contractions that were 50% less forceful. A blood pressure control reflex were less sensitive (article did not specify which reflex), and there was swelling and fluid retention in the cyclohexanone group.
In conclusion, the research discovered interesting effects of a chemical found in medical equipment. Future research could aim at discovering the pathway by which cyclohexanone effects the heart. The team notes that side effects are mild for the amounts of cyclohexanone encountered during medical procedure, and do not discourage patients from seeking treatment due to this discovery.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases
/Chemical_Found_in_Medical_Devices_Impairs_Heart_Function
The research was inspired by the experience of John Hopkins' Artin Shoukas, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, physiology and anesthesiology and critical care medicine, following his own experience with the side effects that ensued from his coronary bypass surgery. He and his team developed the theory that the side effects could be due to a chemical substance in the equipment or fluids used for the operation. Upon testing samples from IV bags, they found that all of them contained cyclohexanone.
They tested the cyclohexanone by injecting rats with saline solution and with saline solution plus cyclohexanone. Rats that received the saline had stroke volumes of 200 uL and heart rates of 358 bpm. Rats that received saline with cyclohexanone had stroke volumes of 150 uL and heart rates of 287 bpm. Using what we learned in class, we see that the cardiac outputs (heart rate times stroke volume) are 71.6 mL/min and 43.05 mL/min, respectively. (Ha, told you this article was relevant!) Thus, the rats that received the cyclohexanone had reduced cardiac output by about 40%. The research team also calculated that the rats that received cyclohexanone had weaker contractions that were 50% less forceful. A blood pressure control reflex were less sensitive (article did not specify which reflex), and there was swelling and fluid retention in the cyclohexanone group.
In conclusion, the research discovered interesting effects of a chemical found in medical equipment. Future research could aim at discovering the pathway by which cyclohexanone effects the heart. The team notes that side effects are mild for the amounts of cyclohexanone encountered during medical procedure, and do not discourage patients from seeking treatment due to this discovery.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases
/Chemical_Found_in_Medical_Devices_Impairs_Heart_Function
posted by Eric Davied at 8:44 PM
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