Effect of various protective solutions on function after kidney transplantation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Immunology
• Organ Preservation

Background:

• Kidney transplantation success relies on organ viability post-procurement.
• Preservative solutions are crucial for maintaining graft function during transport.
• Comparing different preservation solutions is essential for optimizing transplant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of three kidney preservation solutions on immediate and long-term graft function.
• To compare the efficacy of Eurocollins (EC), Custodiol (HTK), and Viaspan (UW) solutions in kidney transplantation.
• To assess graft survival rates and serum creatinine levels at various post-transplant intervals.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 127 kidney transplant recipients was divided into three groups based on preservation solution: EC, HTK, and UW.
• Immediate graft function was assessed within three weeks post-transplantation (primary, delayed, or non-function).
• Long-term function was evaluated using serum creatinine levels and functional graft rates over five years.

Main Results:

• HTK and UW groups demonstrated higher rates of primary immediate kidney function compared to the EC group.
• The EC group exhibited the highest serum creatinine levels at three weeks post-transplantation.
• Over five years, serum creatinine levels converged across all groups, with UW showing a slight advantage over HTK. Functional graft rates were 100% for EC and HTK, and 76.9% for UW.

Conclusions:

• While HTK and UW offer better immediate kidney function post-transplantation, no significant long-term functional differences were observed among EC, HTK, and UW solutions.
• The study highlights the importance of considering both immediate and long-term outcomes when selecting kidney preservation solutions.
• Long-term graft survival rates suggest comparable efficacy between the preservation methods studied.