The effect of nitecapone on early graft function in experimental single lung transplantation

Nitecapone is an antioxidant molecule which has been shown to protect the h eart against ischemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated whether a similar effect could be detected on lung graft preservation in a porcine model of single lung transplantation. Donors received either nitecapone or placebo i n a modified Euro-Collins pulmonary flush solution. After cold storage for 19 h the left lung was transplanted. Patients in the nitecapone group recei ved a nitecapone infusion during the graft reperfusion. A right-side heart bypass was used to measure flow distribution and pulmonary vascular resista nce (PVR) in the recipient's transplanted and native lungs, respectively. P ulmonary vein blood samples were analyzed for blood gases, free radical tra pping capacity and diene conjugates. PVR was high in the transplanted lung, which received only 20% of the blood flow. Oxygen tension in the transplan ted lung was low (2.3-26.7 kPa). Nitecapone treatment increased the plasma free radical trapping capacity threefold. In spite of this increase in anti oxidative capacity nitecapone could not protect the lung against ischemia-r eperfusion injury when pulmonary hemodynamics, gas exchange or plasma diene conjugates were used as measures of lung graft function.