Pre-treatment with ozonized oxygen (O3) aggravates inflammation in septic rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Ozone is produced by neutrophils during bacterial killing. Its application was found to be beneficial in peritonitis patients. Therefore, we measured survival and cytokines after ozone pre-treatment in septic rats. SUBJECTS AND TREATMENT: With approval, 40 male Wistar-rats were allocated to 1) ozone pre-treatment for five days before intra-abdominal sepsis, or 2) no pre-treatment. METHODS: The primary endpoint was mortality at 120 h. Secondary endpoints were plasma cytokine levels. RESULTS: In the control group mortality was 50% (10/20 rats). After ozone pre-treatment, survival was only 35% (7/20 rats, Log-Rank test: P = 0.10). Ozone increased TNF-alpha and MIP-2 after infection: 127 +/- 23 pg/ml and 94 +/- 19 pg/ml (control group: 398 pg/ml and 369 pg/ml; P < 0.002 and P < 0.01). IL-6 levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ozone pre-treatment was pro-inflammatory in sepsis with a trend to reduced survival. Therefore, its effects in sepsis should be further evaluated in animal trials.