 Cardiopulmonary bypass activates the endogenous kallikrein-kinin system and causes a systemic inflammatory response. Like hemodialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass activates the endogenous kallikrein-kinin system, increasing BK concentrations. In smokers, who like hemodialysis patients exhibit endothelial dysfunction, the t-PA response to BK was attenuated during cardiopulmonary bypass. 