A human model of intra-abdominal hypertension: even slightly elevated pressures lead to increased acute systemic inflammation and signs of acute kidney injury
phic eff ects on critically ill patients, but its patho physiology is only partially understood [1]. Oliguria and renal dysfunction are among the earliest signs of increasing intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) [2]. A number of diff erent pathophysiological mechanisms may be responsible [1]. One of these may be an increase in pro-infl ammatory cytokines provoked by IAH [2]. In IAPs of greater than 20 mm Hg, an increase in circulating levels of a variety of infl ammatory mediators has been described [3]. We analyzed markers of infl ammation and renal function in a prospective randomized clinical trial. In this trial, 50 living kidney donors were randomly assigned between hand-assisted laparoscopy by a transperitoneal approach and open nephrectomy by a retroperitoneal approach [4]. In this human model of IAH, a carbon dioxide pneumo-peritoneum of 12 mm Hg was induced during the procedure in the laparoscopic group. Th e open nephrectomy group served as a control group, and IAH was not applied. Markers of systemic infl ammation – C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) – were determined in both groups peri-operatively. Th ese results were previously published in a large study on the eff ect of diff erent operative procedures on outcome of kidney donors [4]. As a marker of renal function, neutrophil gelatinaseassociated lipocalin (NGAL) in plasma and urine was determined in both groups at the start of the procedure and just before extraction of the donor kidney. All data are expressed as means with standard deviations. Paired t tests were performed to test for statistical signifi cance at every time point; a P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically signifi cant. CRP was 1.5 times higher after 24 hours and 1.3 times higher after 48 hours in the laparoscopic group. IL-6 was 1.5 times higher after 12 hours in the laparoscopic group. NGAL in plasma was 1.2 times higher just before extraction of the kidney in the laparoscopic group. NGAL in urine did not change (Figure 1). Although procedure time is shorter [4], laparoscopic nephrectomy leads to increased infl ammation and signs of renal injury. It is tempting to hypothesize that even mild IAH leads to mildly increased systemic infl am mation and increased plasma NGAL as a sign of acute kidney injury in this group. Other factors such as operative technique or infl ammation caused by carbon dioxide gas may contribute. Further studies to dissect the contributions of infl ammation, hemodynamics, and local pressure eff ects on renal injury in IAH are warranted.