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The Feasibility and Safety of Normothermic ex Vivo Kidney Perfusion

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Kidney Transplantation
Interventions
Drug: Normothermic ex-vivo kidney perfusion Solution -Toronto
Registration Number
NCT03136848
Lead Sponsor
University Health Network, Toronto
Brief Summary

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage kidney failure, but access to transplantation is limited by a severe shortage of donor organs. Although the use of kidneys from higher risk deceased donors has increased the availability of organs, these grafts are associated with a greater risk of delayed function, inferior performance, and shorter survival than standard criteria donor kidneys. The current standard of care for kidney graft preservation prior to transplantation is static cold storage. Preliminary results from large animal kidney transplantation studies and a human clinical trial suggest that normothermic machine perfusion of kidneys prior to transplantation may ameliorate the injury sustained by kidney grafts during cold static preservation, allow assessment of organ viability prior to transplantation, and reduce the risk of delayed graft function or non-function. Such a strategy may not only improve the performance of kidneys that are currently considered acceptable for transplantation, but may also facilitate the assessment and utilization of kidneys that are currently not considered for transplantation. This study will examine the feasibility and safety of normothermic ex vivo perfusion of human kidneys prior to transplantation. The study will evaluate kidney function after transplantation using standard clinical parameters. Study participants will be followed for 3 months following transplantation and their outcomes recorded. Feasibility will be measured using the ratio of actual:eligible kidney grafts preserved by normothermic ex vivo perfusion and will also take into account logistical issues with respect to implementation and ease of use of the ex vivo perfusion device. Safety will be assessed by rates of device failure resulting in organ discard, primary graft non-function, delayed graft function, graft failure, and recipient mortality.

Detailed Description

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for suitable patients with end-stage renal disease as it results in lower morbidity and mortality rates when compared to dialysis. Unfortunately, the number of patients referred for transplantation has grown more quickly than the number of suitable grafts from deceased donors.

The use of higher risk organs has expanded the donor pool but at a great cost due to the higher probability that higher risk kidneys will never function (primary non-function, PNF), or will have delayed graft function (DGF). The current standard of care for kidney graft preservation prior to transplantation is static cold storage but higher-risk deceased donor kidneys are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold storage. Preliminary results from large animal kidney transplantation studies and a human clinical trial suggest that normothermic machine perfusion of kidneys prior to transplantation may ameliorate the injury sustained by kidney grafts during cold static preservation, allow assessment of organ viability prior to transplantation, and reduce the risk of delayed graft function or non-function. Such a strategy may not only improve the performance of kidneys that are currently considered acceptable for transplantation, but may also facilitate the assessment and utilization of kidneys that are currently not considered for transplantation.

This study will examine the feasibility and safety of normothermic ex vivo perfusion of human kidneys prior to transplantation. Kidneys will be retrieved in the standard fashion and stored cold during transit. Upon arrival at the study transplant centre, kidneys will begin perfusion with a normothermic near-physiologic, blood-based solution. Perfusion will last 1-10 hours.

The study will evaluate kidney function after transplantation using standard clinical parameters. Study participants (n=25) will be followed for 3 months following transplantation and their outcomes recorded. Feasibility will be measured using the ratio of actual:eligible kidney grafts preserved by normothermic ex vivo perfusion and will also take into account logistical issues with respect to implementation and ease of use of the ex vivo perfusion device. Safety will be assessed by rates of device failure resulting in organ discard, primary graft non-function, delayed graft function, graft failure, and recipient mortality.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
13
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Normothermic perfusionNormothermic ex-vivo kidney perfusion Solution -TorontoKidneys retrieved from deceased donors will undergo the study intervention consisting of 4-10 hours of Normothermic ex-vivo perfusion using a blood-based solution, prior to implantation in the transplant recipient
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The rate of kidney discard or graft failure attributable to the study interventionfrom date of first actual intervention to date last participant completes the study followup period of 3 months post-intervention

organ discard or graft failure directly attributable to the use of normothermic perfusion

the ratio of actual / eligible kidney grafts subjected to study intervention.assessed 3 months after enrollment of final participant, or up to 48 months, whichever is earlier

planned versus actual kidney perfusions to assess study feasibility

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
duration of post-transplant dialysis3 months post-kidney transplantation
rate of primary graft non-function compared to historical, case-matched controls3 months post-kidney transplantation
Degree of Ischemia-reperfusion injury as assessed by post-reperfusion kidney biopsiesassessed 3 months after enrollment of final participant

Pre--implantation kidney biopsies will be graded according to standard histological criteria and assess for degree of ischemia-reperfusion injury

Rate of delayed graft function3 months post-kidney transplantation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Health Network

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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