Comparison of UW and Celsior: long-term results in kidney transplantation

The aim of this study was to compare 2 preservation solutions in kidney transplant recipients in the same center during the same period since initiation of the use of High Na+; low K+ solution (Celsior).

From January 1999 to April 2011, 610 consecutive renal transplantations were done in our department with deceased donor kidneys. Data were collected prospectively. Organ procurement was performed in our center for 305 kidneys. We washed and preserved 409 kidneys in UW, and 201 in Celsior solution.

Donors criteria were worse in the Celsior group for age, male sex, creatinemia, and cold ischemia. Populations of recipients were comparable. There were no differences at 1 and 12 months in creatinine levels (p=0.9 and 0.8, respectively) and in number of delayed graft functions (DGF) (p=0.8 and relative risk =0.9) between groups. There were no differences in post-transplantation outcomes for all variables. At 5 years, graft survival was 90.4% for UW and 93.5% for Celsior (p=0.44).

Our retrospective study did not succeed in demonstrating superiority of a High Na+; low K+ solution compared to a UW type reference solution. Celsior has the same effectiveness as UW during kidney cold storage.