Molar Sodium Lactate Attenuates the Severity of Postcardiac Arrest Syndrome: A Preclinical Study

International audience; OBJECTIVES: To determine whether continuous IV infusion of molar sodium lactate would limit cardiac arrest-induced neurologic injury and cardiovascular failure. DESIGN: Randomized blinded study (animal model). SETTING: University animal research facility. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four adult male "New Zealand White" rabbits. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthetized rabbits underwent 12.5 minutes of asphyxial cardiac arrest and were randomized to receive either normal saline (control group, n = 12) or molar sodium lactate (molar sodium lactate group, n = 12) at a rate of 5 mL/kg/hr during the whole 120-minute reperfusion period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pupillary reactivity (primary outcome), levels of S100β protein, in vitro brain mitochondria functions, cardiovascular function, and fluid balance were assessed. Molar sodium lactate reduced brain injury, with a higher proportion of animals exhibiting pupillary reactivity to light (83% vs 25% in the CTRL group, p = 0.01) and lower S100β protein levels (189 ± 42 vs 412 ± 63 pg/mL, p \textless 0.01) at the end of the protocol. Molar sodium lactate significantly prevented cardiac arrest-induced decrease in oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial calcium-retention capacity compared with controls. At 120 minutes of reperfusion, survival did not significantly differ between the groups (10/12, 83% in the molar sodium lactate group vs nine of 12, 75% in the control group; p \textgreater 0.99), but hemodynamics were significantly improved in the molar sodium lactate group compared with the control group (higher mean arterial pressure [49 ± 2 vs 29 ± 3 mm Hg; p \textless 0.05], higher cardiac output [108 ± 4 vs 58 ± 9 mL/min; p \textless 0.05], higher left ventricle surface shortening fraction [38% ± 3% vs 19% ± 3%; p \textless 0.05], and lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure [3 ± 1 vs 8 ± 2 mm Hg; p \textless 0.01]). While fluid intake was similar in both groups, fluid balance was higher in control animals (11 ± 1 mL/kg) than that in molar sodium lactate-treated rabbits (1 ± 3 mL/kg; p \textless 0.01) due to lower diuresis. CONCLUSIONS: Molar sodium lactate was effective in limiting the severity of the postcardiac arrest syndrome. This preclinical study opens up new perspectives for the treatment of cardiac arrest.