Prevention of primary nonfunction after canine liver allotransplantation: The effect of gadolinium chloride

Effective suppression of Kupffer cell function is believed to contribute to the prevention of preservation/reperfusion injury. In this study, effect of gadolinium, a synthetic Kupffer cell suppressant, on the reperfusion injury was examined using a canine partial liver transplantation model. About a 70% partial liver segment was harvested and reimplanted in a mongrel recipient dog weighing 20 to 25 kg. Gadolinium chloride (10 mg/kg) was infused via the cephalic vein 24 hours before harvest of the partial liver (gadolinium group, n = 5). Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and morphologic grading of graft were compared with those of a control group ( n = 5). Statistical analysis was done with an independent t-test. Average total ischemic time was 4 hours and 27 minutes. At 1 hour after reperfusion, there were no significant differences in AST, ALP, or LDH levels, or pathologic scores. At 48 hours after reperfusion, AST ( P = .03) and LDH ( P = .05) levels were significantly lower in the gadolinium group. Kupffer cell blockade using gadolinium chloride may be effective to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury, but the effect is not evident at an early stage of reperfusion.