We investigated the hemodynamic pattern of serum
hyaluronic acid (HA) and compared it with that of plasma
phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (
PCOOH) in terms of a convenient parameter of
reperfusion injury. Using pig models, we designed two continuous
ischemia groups, prepared by blockage of the blood flow at the hepatic hilum for 10 or 30 min. A discontinuous
ischemia model was prepared by repeating the 10-min
ischemia procedure, followed by 10 min of reperfusion, to a total
ischemia period of 30 min. The
PCOOH level started to increase just after reperfusion and reached the peak at 90 min, followed by a gradual decline after 6 h. The HA level increased rapidly in the continuous
ischemia groups, starting immediately after
ischemia onset until immediately before reperfusion, followed by a gradual decrease during up to 6 h of reperfusion. The HA levels in the three groups were almost normalized after 90 min of reperfusion, when the
PCOOH level reached the peak. These results indicated that the plasma
PCOOH level is a useful parameter for predicting the onset and progress of
reperfusion injury in its initial stages.