A comparative study of the immune modulating properties of antifibrinolytics in cardiac surgery

► Tranexamic acid and aprotinin hardly affect post-cardiac surgery cytokine levels. ► Only aprotinin significantly decreases postoperative plasma levels MCP-1 and TNF-α. ► When compared with corticosteroids, this effects seems of marginal importance. ► A common clinically relevant anti-inflammatory effect of antifibrinolytics seems unlikely.