Nifedipine does not affect free radical induced lipid peroxidation following renal allograft reperfusion

We prospectively measured lipid peroxidation following reperfusion during 44 renal allograft transplant operations. Twenty-four (55%) recipients were taking nifedipine pre- and then postoperatively, and 20 (45%) were not. There were no differences between the groups in terms of recipient or donor status. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), mean 2.2 (0.2) mumol/L (SEM) vs. 1.73 (0.1) was greater in the group not prescribed nifedipine, p < .05, as were cholesterol; 5.89 (0.3) mmol/L vs. 5.58 (0.3) and triglycerides; 2.19 (0.2) mmol/L vs. 1.82 (0.2). Following allograft reperfusion there was a significant increase in the ratio of MDA/cholesterol (x 10(3)) (MDA corrected for changes in plasma volume) from 0.33 (0.03) in the nifedipine group to 0.38 (0.02) at 30 min after reperfusion and 0.38 (0.03) at 60 min, p < .01, and similarly from 0.4 (0.04) to 0.48 (0.03) at 30 min and 0.47 (0.05) after 60 min in the other group, p < .01. There was no difference in the percentage change in MDA/cholesterol ratio between the groups; 27 (5)% vs. 19 (6) at 30 min and 20 (8) vs. 15 (8) at 60 min for the nifedipine and no-nifedipine groups, respectively. There was no difference in postoperative renal function between the groups. This study suggests that the oral administration of nifedipine may not prevent the production of lipid peroxides, as measured by changes in plasma malondialdehyde, following renal allograft reperfusion and that it does not affect renal function in the early postoperative period.