Prolonging Kidney Graft Survival with Concanavalin A: Effects of temperature, perfusate composition, pH, and different manufacturing lots

This study analyzes the effect of temperature, perfusate composition, pH, and variable manufacturing lots in prolonging kidney allograft survival with Concanavalin A (Con A). Cold temperature (4°C), crystalloid composition of the perfusates, and neutral or mildly alkaline pH were important factors in the effect of Con A on prolonging allograft survival. Also, different lots of Con A from the same manufacturer produced variable results in prolonging survival. Thus, multiple factors should be considered if Con A is to be used to prolong kidney allograft survival

Effect of Glucagon and Methylprednisolone on Pancreatectomized Recipients of Whole Pancreas Allografts

Glucagon alone or in combination with methylprednisolone was an adequate therapeutic adjuvant for pancreatectomized recipients of whole pancreas allografts. All recipients were minimally immunosuppressed with azathioprine, 5.0 mg/K/day for three days, then 2.5 mg/K/day. The morphological, functional, and survival response after whole pancreas transplantation indicated a trend of improvement in the treated groups. Only the groups of dogs receiving glucagon alone or in combination with methylprednisolone survived more than two weeks after transplantation. This therapy has proven to be effective for whole pancreas transplantation

Effect of Donor Pretreatment on the Graft Survival of Human Cadaver Kidneys

The effect of donor pretreatment on perfused cadaver kidney allografts was evaluated in 40 recipients at Henry Ford Hospital over a two-year period. Ofthe 40,23 received kidneys from donors pretreated with 40 mg/K each of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone during the first year of the study and up to 70 mg/K during the second year. Our results indicated that donor pretreatment for five to eight hours did not consistently improve survival rates in pretreated perfused cadaver kidneys following transplantation. The use of cyclophosphamide for donor pretreatment does not prevent the use of continuous perfusion to preserve human kidneys. Dosages up to 70 mg/K may be used without an apparent increase in acute tubular necrosis or significant early loss of renal function

Effect of Acute Posttransplant Renal Failure on the Survival of Perfused Cadaver Kidneys

Between 7973 and 7977 we encountered 22 cases of acute renal failure after transplantation in 70 patients who received perfused cadaver kidneys. Nearly two-thirds of 76 nonfunctioning grafts were lost due to subsequent superimposed rejection, often undetected and, hence, untreated. Thirty-one percent of the 76 recovered function. The recovery rate, we believe, can be improved by earlier diagnosis and treatment of rejection and by avoiding invasive diagnostic procedures in the early postoperative period. If the oliguric period extends beyond two weeks, a closed percutaneous renal biopsy is justified. The diagnosis of rejection and/or other abnormality as well as subsequent treatment are very important in these patients

Intravenous Methylprednisolone for Kidney Transplantation

The effect of different dosage levels (0-100 mg/k/day x 3)of intravenous methylprednisolone was tested in canine kidney autografts undergoing immediate contralateral nephrectomy. Intravenous methylprednisolone was safely administered in doses up to 40 mg/k/day for three days after kidney transplantation. Higher doses ( 40 mg/k/day x 3) were functionally and structurally harmful to canine kidney autografts