HEIDELBERG, Germany, Sep 1, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- German researchers suggest
some infusion solutions in a common intravenous treatment may cause
life-threatening inflammation.
The study, published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, found a common
intravenous treatment used to boost blood pressure in critical patients contains
substances called "advanced glycation end products."
This reaction among various proteins occurring after the fluid has been
formulated for use is called "post-translational modification."
The researchers suggest screening infusion solutions for post-translational
protein modifications and then removing the compounds.
"Improving the quality of infusion solutions by accounting for
post-translational modification of proteins could lead to better clinical
outcomes for patients, such as those treated solutions containing albumin,"
study co-author Angelika Bierhaus of the University of Heidelberg in Germany
said in a statement.
Bierhaus and colleagues injected advanced glycation end products detected in
several currently available albumin infusion solutions into mice. The mice
receiving the high levels of advanced glycation end products experienced
significantly higher inflammation and death rates than the mice receiving low
levels.
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