TOP-Study (Tacrolimus Organ Perfusion): Treatment of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Marginal Organs With an ex Vivo Tacrolimus Perfusion

Summary

Utilisation of extended criteria donors due to critical organ shortage contributes to increased ischemia reperfusion injury as well as mortality following liver transplantation. Experimental data show protective effects on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) using the calcineurin inhibitor Tacrolimus applied intravenously or directly as a hepatic rinse. Moreover clinical data indicate a protective role of a Tacrolimus rinse in human liver transplantation when using normal, healthy grafts. The effects of Tacrolimus on hepatic injury in extended donor criteria (EDC) liver grafts remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the effects of a Tacrolimus ex vivo rinse (20 ng/ml) on cellular injury after transplantation of marginal liver grafts exhibiting 2 or more EDCs according to Eurotransplant's definition of EDC grafts.

Timeline

Start

2011-10

Primary completion

2013-07

Completion

2013-07

Publications

• Background Pratschke S, Bilzer M, Grutzner U, Angele M, Tufman A, Jauch KW, Schauer RJ. Tacrolimus preconditioning of rat liver allografts impacts glutathione homeostasis and early reperfusion injury. J Surg Res. 2012 Jul;176(1):309-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2011.07.045. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
• Background St Peter SD, Post DJ, Rodriguez-Davalos MI, Douglas DD, Moss AA, Mulligan DC. Tacrolimus as a liver flush solution to ameliorate the effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury following liver transplantation. Liver Transpl. 2003 Feb;9(2):144-9. doi: 10.1053/jlts.2003.50018.
• Background Kristo I, Wilflingseder J, Kainz A, Marschalek J, Wekerle T, Muhlbacher F, Oberbauer R, Bodingbauer M. Effect of intraportal infusion of tacrolimus on ischaemic reperfusion injury in orthotopic liver transplantation: a randomized controlled trial. Transpl Int. 2011 Sep;24(9):912-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2011.01284.x. Epub 2011 Jun 14.
• Results Pratschke S, Arnold H, Zollner A, Heise M, Pascher A, Schemmer P, Scherer MN, Bauer A, Jauch KW, Werner J, Guba M, Angele MK. Results of the TOP Study: Prospectively Randomized Multicenter Trial of an Ex Vivo Tacrolimus Rinse Before Transplantation in EDC Livers. Transplant Direct. 2016 May 4;2(6):e76. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000000588. eCollection 2016 Jun.
• Pratschke S, Eder M, Heise M, Nadalin S, Pascher A, Schemmer P, Scherer MN, Ulrich F, Wolters H, Jauch KW, Wohling D, Angele MK. Protocol TOP-Study (tacrolimus organ perfusion): a prospective randomized multicenter trial to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury in transplantation of marginal liver grafts with an ex vivo tacrolimus perfusion. Transplant Res. 2013 Mar 4;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2047-1440-2-3.

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