Retrospective comparative study on the influence of preservation solutions on human renal allograft function and survival.

This retrospective study has revealed that human cadaveric renal grafts preserved with hypertonic citrate solution have a significantly higher proportion with primary graft function compared with EuroCollins preserved grafts. Furthermore, Hypertonic citrate-preserved grafts have better early renal function. Those grafts with primary function show an improved graft survival at 12 months when compared with those grafts which had delayed function. There was no difference in renal graft function at 6 months following transplantation between the hypertonic citrate and EuroCollins-preserved grafts nor in the graft losses from rejection. Although the overall graft failure rate in the hypertonic citrate group is higher, this is due to patient mortality and not to rejection.