LEUKOCYTE AND PLATELET ACTIVATION DURING EXTRACORPOREAL-CIRCULATION

Extracorporeal circulation of blood has become a routine procedure in plasmapheresis, hemodialysis and cardiopulmonary bypass. Specifically in cardiopulmonary bypass, blood is exposed to a large material surface area, which induces an inflammatory reaction and bleeding disorders. It has been attempted to counteract these adverse effects of extracorporeal circulation by employing biocompatible materials, by pharmacological treatment of the patients, and by surface coating of the blood-contacting area. On reviewing the research field related to blood activation by cardiopulmonary bypass, it is concluded that the whole surgical procedure has to be taken into account. Blood activation appears to have multiple causes. Also our knowledge of the responses of blood to different materials has to be extended to make sure that biocompatible materials are applied.