Glucagon-like peptide-1 is associated with poor clinical outcome, lipopolysaccharide translocation and inflammation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

Introduction: Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with gut barrier dysfunction. Gut barrier dysfunction might be estimated non-invasively by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plasma concentration. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut secreted hormone that is a potential marker of mucosal integrity. Our objective was to evaluate GLP-1 as a peri-operative marker of gut barrier dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. Methods: GLP-1, intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) and lipopolysaccharide were assayed: at induction, after CPB and 24 h after admission in the intensive care unit. The primary end-point was peri-operative lipopolysaccharide concentration (LPS concentration at those 3 time points). Results: Seventy-two patients were included in the present analysis. The highest measured post-operative GLP-1 concentration was in the sample taken 24 h after admission to intensive care, which was associated with perioperative lipopolysaccharide plasma concentration. Patients who had the highest GLP-1 concentrations at 24 h experienced more severe inflammation and worse clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Our study supports that GLP-1 is not only a hormone of glucose metabolism but is also secreted when gut barrier is impaired in cardiac surgery with CPB. The GLP-1 levels measured 24 h after admission to the intensive care unit were associated with LPS concentration, inflammation and clinical outcomes.