Despite its significant benefits, such as providing a bloodless surgical field, CPBis associated with postperfusion syndrome, a condition whereby biochemical mediatorstrigger coagulopathy (through activation of the complement system), left ventriculardysfunction and myocardial ischemia (mediated by IL-6 and IL8), fibrinolysis (causedby free radicals), vasoplegia (associated with kinins), and cell death (throughTNF-α action), as well as generation of reactive oxygen species as a resultof ischemia and reperfusion. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is myocardial ischemia.