The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 75, 286-289, Copyright © 1978 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Levels of plasma cyclic AMP and insulin in cardiac surgery
RC Chiu and HA McArdle
Cyclic AMP is a common second messenger for a variety of hormones such as
catecholamine, glucagon, and growth hormone, which are affected by cardiac
surgery. Changes in plasma cyclic AMP level may thus reflect an altered
hormonal milieu. The effects of open-heart surgery on plasma cyclic AMP and
its relation with serum insulin were studied in 33 adult patients who
underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Plasma cyclic AMP
levels were markedly elevated during cardiopulmonary bypass and returned
toward normal within several days after the operation. The serum insulin
concentration remained low, and no positive correlation was found with
plasma cyclic AMP level. The responses were similar in patients who had
aorta-coronary bypass grafts and those who had valve replacements.