[Effect of preservation of the kidney on the long-term function following autotransplantation]

The consequences of ischaemia-reperfusion injury from kidney recipients on delayed graft function and graft survival still remain a matter of debate. Using an autotransplanted pig kidney model, the influence of trimetazidine added to two standard preservation solutions (Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin) was studied. The renal parameters were analysed over a period of 12 weeks after transplantation. The degree of interstitial fibrosis, and the number of CD4, CD8 and macrophage positive cells were analysed at 2, 4-5 and 11-12 weeks after the transplantation. Glomerular filtration and sodium reabsorption were significantly more improved after cold-flush and preservation with trimetazidine-supplemented solutions than with trimetazidine-free solutions. The cytoprotective action of trimetazidine also reduced interstitial fibrosis and the number of infiltrating CD4 and CD8-positive cells. These results indicate that the condition of cold preservation may influence long-term kidney graft functions and that trimetazidine reduces to a certain extent the degree of interstitial fibrosis.