Donor heart preservation with the potassium channel opener pinacidil: comparison with University of Wisconsin and St. Thomas' solution. |
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Authors: | E M Hoenicke D S Peterseim C T Ducko X Sun R J Damiano |
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Affiliation: | Penn State Geisinger Health System, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. ehoenicke@psghs.edu |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Hyperpolarized arrest with the potassium channel opener pinacidil has been shown to provide effective myocardial protection during short-term global ischemia. This study tested the hypothesis that pinacidil may provide effective long-term protection for heart transplant preservation. METHODS: Four concentrations of pinacidil (50 microM, 100 microM, 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM) mixed in Krebs-Henseleit solution were compared with University of Wisconsin and St. Thomas' Hospital solutions in a Krebs-Henseleit perfused rabbit Langendorff model (n = 6 for each group). Hearts underwent 4 hours of hypothermic (4 degrees C) storage. Over a wide range of volumes, left ventricular systolic function, diastolic compliance, and coronary flow were measured prior to and following storage. Time to mechanical and electrical arrest, and post-ischemic percent tissue water were also measured. RESULTS: Pinacidil 0.5 mM provided the best preservation of post-ischemic systolic function and coronary flow compared with the other pinacidil concentrations and was statistically equivalent to St. Thomas' solution in terms of post-ischemic systolic, diastolic, and flow properties. However, hearts protected with University of Wisconsin solution had significantly better preservation of systolic function and coronary flow. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrated that pinacidil in Krebs-Henseleit solution possesses efficacy in long-term donor heart preservation. Pinacidil was equivalent to St. Thomas' solution but inferior to University of Wisconsin solution. Hyperpolarized arrest with potassium channel openers may be a novel strategy to improve donor heart preservation. |
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