Comparison of four pharmacological strategies aimed to prevent the lung inflammation and paraquat-induced alveolar damage

Objective The aim of this study was to compare in vivo effect of five pharmacological options on inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat. Methods 54 Wistar SPF rats were used. After 2 h post-intoxication with paraquat ion, groups of 9 animals were randomly assigned to (1) cyclophosphamide plus dexamethasone (2) low molecular weight heparin (3) unfractionated heparin (4) vitamin C every 24 h, (5) atorvastatin or (6) placebo with intraperitoneal saline. Lung inflammation, alveolar injury, hepatocyte damage, hepatic regeneration, acute tubular necrosis and kidney congestion were evaluated. Results In the control group 100% of animals presented moderate and severe lung inflammation, while in the groups with atorvastatin and intratracheal heparin this proportion was lower (55.5%; CI 26.6-81.3%) (p = 0.025). A lower degree of moderate or severe hepatic regeneration was evident in the treatment groups with atorvastatin (p = 0.009). In this study was demonstrated that statins and heparin might have a protective effect in the paraquat-induced destructive phase. More evidence is needed to evaluated of dose-response effects of these drugs before to study in clinical trials.