Cardioprotective effect of pretreatment with beta-glucan in coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: Beta-glucan pretreatment has been shown to attenuate inflammatory response and to protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury in animal studies. The aims of the present study were to examine the safety of pretreatment with beta-1,3/1,6-glucan in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to investigate whether beta-1,3/1,6-glucan pretreatment could suppress inflammatory response and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury following CABG. METHODS: Twenty one patients scheduled for CABG were assigned to oral beta-1,3/1,6-glucan 700 mg (Group 1) or 1 400 mg (Group 2) five consecutive days before surgery and were compared with a control group (Group 3). Blood samples were drawn preoperatively and on the first, third and fifth postoperative day for analysis of acute-phase reactants, hematology, cytokines and myocardial enzymes. RESULTS: The study drug was well tolerated. Creatine kinase isoenzyme MB was significantly lower in Group 2 compared with controls on the first postoperative day (p = 0.028). Mean change in cardiac troponin T was lower in Group 2 compared with controls (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-1,3/1,6-glucan pretreatment is safe in patients undergoing CABG and may protect against ischemia reperfusion injury following CABG.