Prostaglandin E₁ improves pulsatile preservation characteristics and early graft function in expanded criteria donor kidneys

Unlike simple cold storage, machine preservation allows dynamic assessment and manipulation of the donor organ before transplantation. The effects of four pharmacologic agents added to the perfusate during machine preservation of expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys were prospectively compared to 1) describe their influence on perfusion parameters and 2) determine their influence on early graft outcome. Between 1 January 1995 and 1 October 1997, 125 consecutive ECD kidneys were preserved in the authors' laboratory. A definition of ECD was assigned to kidneys requiring pretransplant biopsy. The ECD kidneys were randomized to receive prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁), trifluoperazine (TFP), verapamil (VER), mannitol (MAN), or no intervention (control) during machine preservation. All kidneys were preserved by continuous hypothermic pulsatile perfusion (CHPP) using Belzer II solution, and perfusion parameters were measured every 2 hours during pulsatile perfusion. The addition of PGE₁ to the perfusate increased renal flow and decreased renal resistance. Moreover, the PGE₁ treated group was associated with improved early graft function when compared with all other groups. The addition of VER, TFP, and MAN influenced neither the perfusion characteristics nor the incidence of early graft function. Treatment with PGE₁ during machine preservation enhances hydrostatic perfusion parameters (renal flow and renal resistance) and reduces the incidence of delayed graft function in ECD kidneys.