Erythropoietin preserves the integrity and quality of organs for transplantation after cardiac death.
Previous studies have shown that treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) exerts important cytoprotective and antiapoptotic effects. Donor organs recovered after cardiac death (DCD) can alleviate the shortage of organs required for transplantation. However, organs obtained subsequent to cardiac death demonstrate an increased incidence of delayed graft function and primary nonfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of EPO administration to the donor in a porcine model of kidney transplantation under DCD conditions. Landrace pigs received 1,000 IU/kg i.v. EPO 30 min before cardiac arrest. Kidneys were then subjected to 30 min of warm ischemia and were transplanted after 24 h of cold storage. Renal dysfunction, injury, and inflammation were evaluated 4 h after transplantation. Transplantation of kidneys from DCD resulted in significant renal dysfunction, injury, and inflammation. This study provides the first evidence that pretreatment of the donor with a single pharmacologically relevant dose of EPO causes substantial attenuation of the dysfunction and injury associated with the transplantation of kidneys recovered after cardiac death.
Maio
Rui
R
Clínica Universitária de Cirurgia I-Hospital Santa Maria, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. maio.rui@netcabo.pt.
Sepodes
Bruno
B
Patel
Nimesh S A
NS
Thiemermann
Christoph
C
Mota-Filipe
Helder
H
Costa
Paulo
P
D000818:Animals; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D019737:Transplants
D004921:Erythropoietin