Researchers Predict Fate of Transplant Organs

By Allison M. Heinrichs, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Jun. 26–The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said Wednesday its researchers have found a way to predict whether organs from brain-dead donors are likely to be successfully transplanted into ailing patients.

Organs with higher levels of a protein called interleukin-6, which is associated with inflammation, result in decreased survival in patients who receive them, the researchers said in Critical Care Medicine, the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s journal.

Brain death induces a massive inflammatory response, but its influence on organ procurement, transplantation and long-term survival has been unclear, the researchers reported. They said their study “is the first time that a marker of inflammation in an organ donor has been shown to predict outcome in the transplant recipient.”

The study was led by Pitt’s Clinical Research, Investigation and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness Laboratory. Data were gathered from 30 brain-dead organ donors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. The donors gave 91 organs for transplant in 78 recipients in 2004.

According to the study, it is premature to recommend routine screening of interleukin-6 in donors.

“This is one relatively small study, but if the findings are confirmed, I think there is promise to possibly use this technique to ultimately improve organ selection and patient outcomes,” said Dr. John A. Kellum, senior author of the study and a professor in Pitt’s Department of Critical Care Medicine.

—–

To see more of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.