The present studies evaluated the role
cyclooxygenase products play in bacterial
sepsis induced
pulmonary injury in the rat.
Lung injury was assessed by determining the pulmonary capillary filtration coefficient (Kf) and the lung lavage
protein concentration four and 18 hours after cecal
ligation and
puncture. Four hours after cecal
ligation, the Kf was unchanged from control, however, by 18 hours, the Kf was increased 171% (p < .05). Similarly, lung lavage
protein levels were unchanged four hours after cecal
ligation but were significantly (p < .05) elevated at 18 hours. On the other hand, pulmonary lavage immunoreactive
thromboxane B2 (iTXB2) levels were increased both four and 18 hours after the initiation of
sepsis. In order to determine if
cyclooxygenase products played a role in the
sepsis associated
lung injury,
ibuprofen was administered prior to cecal
ligation.
Ibuprofen pretreatment prevented the
sepsis associated increase in both Kf and lung lavage
protein concentration. These studies suggest that bacterial
sepsis in the rat is associated with
pulmonary injury and that early administration of
ibuprofen ameliorates this damage.