['To investigate whether ulinastatin pretreatment (6000 U.kg-1 before CPB and before declamping of aorta) influenced the production of cytokines and adhesion molecules in the peripheral circulation.', 'This prospective randomized study was performed in 22 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. They were divided into two groups. Patients in Group I were untreated and in Group II treated with ulinastatin. The soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (S-ICAM-1), soluble endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (S-ELAM-1), interleukin 8 and 6 (IL- 8, 6) were measured using ELISA kits.', 'Serum S-ICAM-1 concentration in Group I increased from the preoperative value of 297 +/- 27 ng.kg-1 to 418 +/- 106 ng.kg-1 at 60 min after declamping of the aorta (P < 0.01) but did not change in Group II. Serum S-ELAM-1 concentration did not change in either group. Serum concentration of IL-8 and IL-6 in Group I (37 +/- 44 pg.kg-1, and 59 +/- 59 pg.kg-1, preoperatively) increased to 169 +/- 86 pg.kg-1 and 436 +/- 143 pg.kg-1 at 60 min after declamping of the aorta (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). The increases were greater than those from 25 +/- 6 pg.kg-1 and 30 +/- 26 pg.kg-1 to 56 +/- 36 pg.kg-1 and 132 +/- 78 pg.kg-1 in Group II (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). The levels of S-ICAM-1 correlated with those of IL-8 (r = 0.5, P < 0.001).'] Does ulinastatin reduce elevation of cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules during cardiac surgery?