Prevention of Decompression Sickness by Novel Artificial Oxygen Carriers.

Prevention of Decompression Sickness by Novel Artificial Oxygen Carriers.:

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Prevention of Decompression Sickness by Novel Artificial Oxygen Carriers.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Apr 01;:

Authors: Mayer D, Guerrero F, Goanvec C, Hetzel L, Linders J, Ljubkovic M, Kreczy A, Mayer C, Kirsch M, Ferenz KB

Abstract

For three decades, studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) in reducing the onset of decompression trauma. However, none of these emulsion-based preparations are accepted for therapeutic use in the western world, mainly because of severe side-effects and a long organ retention time. A new development to guarantee a stable dispersion without these disadvantages is the encapsulation of PFCs in nanocapsules with an albumin shell.

PURPOSE: Newly designed albumin-derived perfluorocarbon-based artificial oxygen carriers (A-AOCs) are used in a rodent in-vivo model as a preventive therapy for decompression sickness (DCS).

METHODS: Thirty-seven rats were treated with either A-AOCs (n=12), albumin nanocapsules filled with neutral oil (A-O-N, n=12) or 5% human serum albumin solution (A-0-0, n=13) before a simulated dive. Eleven rats, injected with A-AOCs, stayed at normal pressure (A-AOCs-surface). Clinical, laboratory and histological evaluations were performed.

RESULTS: The occurrence of DCS depended on the treatment group. A-AOCs significantly reduced DCS-appearance and mortality. Furthermore, a significant improvement of survival time was found (A-AOCs compared with A-0-0). Histological assessment of A-AOCs-dive compared with A-0-0-dive animals revealed significantly higher accumulation of macrophages, but less blood congestion in the spleen and significantly less hepatic circulatory disturbance, vacuolisation and cell damage. Compared to non-diving controls lactate and myoglobin showed a significant increase in the A-0-0- but not in the A-AOCs-dive group.

CONCLUSION: Intravenous application of A-AOCs was well tolerated and effective in reducing the occurrence of DCS, animals showed significantly higher survival rates and less symptoms compared to the albumin group (A-0-0). Analysis of histological results and fast reacting plasma parameters confirmed the preventive properties of A-AOCs.

PMID: 32251255 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]