Use of oxygen radical scavengers on autografted pig kidneys after warm ischemia and 48-hour perfusion preservation

P. J. Bosco and R. T. Schweizer
Department of Surgery, Hartford (Conn) Hospital 06115.

Oxygen free radicals generated during the reperfusion of an ischemic organ may cause further cellular injury; removal of these oxygen radicals by scavengers protects tissue from reperfusion injury. Thus, oxygen radical scavengers could protect kidneys after warm ischemia and long hypothermic perfusion. Porcine kidneys were incubated at 37 degrees C for 45 minutes, placed on a pulsatile perfusion apparatus at 7 degrees C for 48 hours, and then autografted to iliac vessels. Superoxide dismutase (10 mg) and catalase (10 mg) in 10 mL of phosphate-buffered saline solution were infused into the renal artery during a three-minute interval before reperfusion. The kidneys treated with the superoxide dismutase-catalase solution had significantly improved function compared with controls receiving only phosphate-buffered saline solution. The mean (+/- SEM) serum creatinine level on postoperative day 5 was 510 +/- 100 mumol/L (5.75 +/- 1.12 mg/dL) (n = 12) vs the control value of 840 +/- 90 mumol/L (9.54 +/- 1.01 mg/dL) (n = 11). There was more extensive cellular damage in the control kidneys. This demonstrates the efficacy of oxygen radical scavengers in protecting pig kidneys after warm ischemia and prolonged preservation.