Pushing the envelope in renal preservation; improved results with novel perfusate modifications for pulsatile machine perfusion of cadaver kidneys.

INTRODUCTION: Novel preservation techniques may diminish ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our preservation laboratory has modified Belzer MPS for machine perfusion (MP) with prostaglandin E1 (PGE 1), nitroglycerin (NTG), and polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD) to attenuate I/R injury. We reviewed our recent experience using this novel formulation (NF) compared with standard perfusates. RESULTS: Between January 1998 and March 2000, 1060 consecutive kidneys were preserved in our laboratory. One hundred forty-eight kidneys (14%) were discarded. Fifty-eight percent of kidneys during this time period underwent MP (n = 532). En bloc kidney pairs were randomly assigned to pulsatile MP using Waters RM3 or MOX-100 perfusion systems using 1 of 3 perfusates; NF (NF; n = 119), Belzer MPS (MPS; n = 201), or Belzer II albumin gluconate (ALB; n = 212) Significant improvements in delayed graft function (DGF) rate were seen with NF versus other perfusates (8% vs 14% vs 19%, respectively; P =.03). At 6 months, graft survival was significantly improved with NF compared with MPS and ALB (96% vs 90% vs 87%, respectively; P =.03). NF also produced a significantly higher percentage of recipients with a serum creatinine level < or = 1.5 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Novel modifications of standard MP perfusate improved outcomes after renal transplantation. Preservation-based interventions targeted to ameliorate I/R injury can improve outcomes and may allow expansion of the donor pool.