Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, fails to attenuate pulmonary dysfunction in ovine burn and smoke model

Elevated levels of angiotensin II (AngII) in the lung have been shown in response to burn and smoke inhalation injury. AngII has been associated with increased nitric oxide levels, leading to nuclear oxidative damage in Type II lung epithelial cells. Losartan is an AngII, AT1A specific receptor blocking. Using an ovine model of acute respiratory distress, we hypothesized that blocking AngII receptors with losartan would improve the clinical conditions seen in response to the injury. Chronically prepared adult ewes received a 40% total body surface area third degree flame burn followed by 48 breaths of cotton smoke. The sheep were randomly divided into two groups: control (injury, no treatment, n=7) and treatment (injury + losartan, n= 7). Losartan was given intravenously as a bolus (50 mg) at 1hour post-injury. All animals received 4ml/kg/%burn of Ringer's lactate and were mechanically ventilated. Control animals showed severe signs of acute lung injury evidenced by deterioration of pulmonary gas exchange (PaO2/FiO2, pulmonary shunt fraction), increased lung water content, and increased pulmonary transvascular fluid flux, and vascular permeability index. Although there was a trend for the reduction of lung lymph flow and permeability index, none of these alterations could be shown to be statistically affected by this dosage of losartan in this 24-hour ovine model of acute lung injury. \r\n

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Lauren Patricia Foresman

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Daniel L. Traber, Ph.D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hal K. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.
• George C. Kramer

• losartan
• burn and smoke injury
• ARDS
• angiotensin receptor blocker
• angiotensin II

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05282008-120234

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/113