Determining the effect of long-term dexamethasone and prednisolone treatment on sugammadex

Authors: EBRU BİRİCİK, ERSEL GÜLEÇ, IŞIL ÖCAL, MEHMET BERTAN YILMAZ, FERİDE KARACAER, DİLEK ÖZCENGİZ

Abstract: Background/aim: We aimed to investigate the effect of long-term use of dexamethasone and prednisolone on the reversal effect of sugammadex. Materials and methods: TTwenty-four male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Dexamethasone (600 µg/kg) was given to group D, prednisolone (10 mg/kg) was given to group P, and an equivalent volume of saline per day was administered intraperitoneally to group S for 14 days, respectively. The left hemidiaphragm with attached phrenic nerve was maintained in Krebs solution. Sugammadex (30 µmol/L) was applied while rocuronium (10 µmol/L) was present in an organ bath and a single twitch was obtained. The right hemidiaphragm was used for both adult ( ε-subunit) and fetal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) ( ε-subunit) determination using polymerase chain reaction. Results: All animals lost weight, except group S. The mean baseline single-twitch tension was lower in both group D (14.4 ± 1.7 g) and group P (12.68 ± 0.05 g) than group S (16.8 ± 0.5 g) (P < 0.001). When sugammadex was added to the organ bath while rocuronium was present, the single twitch was measured to be lower in both group D (11.7 ± 0.7 g) and group P (11.5 ± 0.78 g) than group S (16.5 ± 0.24 g) (P < 0.001). Ɣ-AChR expression was higher in both dexamethasone and prednisolone than in saline. Conclusion: Long-term medication with dexamethasone and prednisolone caused muscle weakness, resistance to neuromuscular blockers, and upregulation of immature Ɣ-AChR and reduced the neuromuscular reversal effect of sugammadex.

Keywords: Sugammadex, dexamethasone, prednisolone, acetylcholine receptors, neuromuscular blockers

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