Background: Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) represents a serious problem of transplanted kidneys from a non-heart-beating donor (NHBD). It is probably the main cause of primary a function or delayed graft function. The aim of the experimental study was to demonstrate on an experimental model the possibilities of reduction of IRI by intravenous application of antioxidants or immunosuppressives to the recipient before the kidney transplantation.
Method: Piglets weighing between 20-25 kg were used (N = 45) for the experiment. Intravenous application of multivitamins (GI) and a combination of immunosuppressives (GII) was tested one hour before the kidney transplantation from the NHBD. As a control a group (GIII) with simple NHBD modelling was used. At intervals of 0, 20, 60 and 120 minutes after the kidney transplantation, plasma levels of malondiadehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were assessed. Before and 120 minutes after transplantation tissue concentrations of both factors were assessed in the transplanted kidney.
Results: A permanent increase in MDA plasma concentrations occurred in GIII. In GI and GII, after a temporary increase of MDA plasma levels in the first 20 minutes after reperfusion, there was their permanent decrease then. (p < 0.05, resp. p < 0.01). The differences in the MDA plasma levels of GI and GII groups did not reach statistical significance. The both groups differed from GIII (p < 0.001). GSH plasma levels and also tissue concentrations of MDA and GSH were not statistically significant in any group in the course of the experiment.
Conclusion: Intravenous application of multivitamins or immunosuppressives before kidney transplantation could have a significant influence on the immediate function of transplanted kidneys from a NHBD.