Is there a relationship between cognitive dysfunction and systemic inflammatory response after cardiopulmonary bypass?

Background. The systemic inflammatory reaction (SIR) is assumed to be one of the factors that causes cerebral dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the SIR and postoperative cognitive performance at 5 days and 3 months. Methods. One hundred patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were studied. Inflammatory markers and markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis were determined at several time points during and after the operation. Correlation analysis between maximum levels of the different markers and early and late performance was performed. Results. No overall association was found between the maximum levels of the inflammatory markers and early and late function. Conclusions. Notwithstanding limitations of statistical power established markers of systemic inflammatory reaction showed no relationship with outcome at 5-day or 3-month follow-up in this subset of patients.