Eliminating circulating donor passenger leukocytes during clinical ex vivo lung perfusion does not attenuate
M A Hu1, Z L Zhang1, R F Hoffmann1
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Purpose:
During Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP), it is standard practice to incorporate a leukocyte filter to remove donor passenger leukocytes and attenuate their inflammatory effects. The widely used leukocyte filter, LeukoGuard 6, seems to be ineffective in reducing circulating leukocytes during EVLP. Therefore, we performed contemporary leukocyte filtration using BioR 02 plus leukocyte filters to reduce these leukocytes and investigate whether inflammation could be reduced.
Methods:
EVLP was performed for a minimum of 180 min with 15 bilateral donor lungs. Perfusate samples were taken from the in- and outlet of the leukocyte filter, which was subsequently clamped after 60 min. Contemporary parallel leukocyte filtration was performed in 9 EVLPs (intervention group) and in 6 EVLPs without (control group).
Results:
After EVLP, 6/6 donor lungs were transplanted in the control group and 6/9 in the intervention group. Leukocytes increased significantly from 30 to 180 min in the standard group compared with the intervention group. During EVLP IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, neutrophil elastase, CD-14, syndecan-1, hyaluronan and VCAM-1, levels were not significantly different between the groups at 90 and 180 min. Post-transplant, primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and 1-month survival were similar.
Conclusion:
The intervention group showed significantly lower circulating donor passenger leukocytes. However, this did not lead to attenuated inflammatory cytokines, leukocyte activation, glycocalyx shedding or endothelial activation. Clinical outcomes were similar between groups. Further research is needed to determine the exact effect of these donor passenger leukocytes.
