A newly developed hydroxyl radical scavenger, EPC-K1 can improve the survival of swine warm ischemia-damaged transplanted liver grafts.

Using a swine orthotopic liver transplantation (SOLTx) model, we assessed the effect of a new hydroxyl radical scavenger EPC-K1 on warm ischemic damage of the liver graft and recipient survival. Animals were divided into 5 groups. The first group (control group 1) consisted of 5 pigs which were not operated on but served as controls for the indocianine green disappearance rate (K-ICG) determinations. In the second group (control group 2), 10 livers were transplanted without warm ischemia (WI) and the K-ICG values were measured. The third group (control group 3) was the main control group for the study groups and consisted of 5 liver transplants with 30 min of WI without any special treatment. The fourth and fifth groups served as study groups 1 and 2. Five transplants were carried out in each group, as in control group 3. In study group 1 recipients were treated with an additional 5 mg/kg i.v. EPC-K1 and in study group 2 with 20 mg/kg i.v. EPC-K1. Significant improvement in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, K-ICG values and histological findings were observed in the EPC-K1 treated groups. The intravenous administration of this agent had a strong protective effect on warm ischemic damage after 30 min of WI and could significantly prolong the graft and recipient survival.