Vol. 92, Issue 6, 2375-2380, June 2002
Chronic hyperbaric exposure activates proinflammatory
mediators in humans
Anders
Ersson1,
Maria
Walles2,
Kjell
Ohlsson2, and
Anders
Ekholm3
1 Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital,
and 2 Department of Surgical Pathophysiology,
University of Lund, Malmoe General Hospital, 205 02 Malmoe,
Sweden; and 3 Department of Anaesthesia, Ringerike
Hospital, 3511 Honefoss, Norway
Decompression illness (DCI) is an
illness affecting divers subjected to reductions in ambient pressure.
Besides a mechanical explanation to DCI, an inflammatory mechanism has
been suggested. In this study, levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, IL-1
receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor
(SLPI), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin (NGAL) were
measured in divers before and after a 2-mo period of daily diving. The divers were military conscripts and completed their diving period with
no clinical symptoms of DCI. We found no change in IL-6 and IL1-ra but
did find an increase in IL-8 and NGAL together with a decrease in SLPI
levels. The findings suggest an inflammatory activation. This
activation is not severe because no changes in IL-6 or IL-1ra were
found. The increase in NGAL and IL-8 levels were interpreted as a sign
of leukocyte activation. The decreased SLPI levels suggest an influence
on the inflammatory defense mechanism. All in all, the findings of this
study show a compensated activation of the inflammatory defense
mechanism without loss of homeostasis of the inflammatory system.
decompression; diving; inflammatory activation
