The Journal of surgical research
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Organ transplantation in presensitized recipients continues to be contraindicated for heart and kidney recipients due to the risk of hyperacute rejection, which has no known treatment at this time. We tested whether donor serum, which contains soluble MHC class I antigen, is able to neutralize the effect of anti-donor antibody in the recipient and prevent hyperacute or accelerated rejection. A rat model of passive immunization was used to test the role of anti-donor antibody in hyperacute rejection. ⋯ However, removal of RT1. Aa antigen from ACI serum prior to use in the passive transfer model did not abrogate the graft prolongation observed previously. These data suggest that components of donor serum other than MHC class I antigen may be useful for preventing the antibody-mediated component of hyperacute rejection.
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Adrenergic agents (AAs) have been used in critically ill patients to increase oxygen delivery (DO2). Associated parallel increases in oxygen consumption (VO2) have been noted and are thought to represent improved tissue oxygen utilization at supraphysiologic levels of DO2. We hypothesize that the increase in VO2 associated with the use of AAs in septic animals is secondary to direct, obligate, metabolic effects of the agents themselves. ⋯ Dobutamine increased VO2 to 119% of baseline (31% above control) and dopamine to 111% of baseline (28% over control). We conclude that adrenergic agents cause a significant increase in whole body VO2 at moderate doses in septic dogs. It is likely, therefore, that the "pathologic" relationship between VO2 and DO2 described in critically ill patients is partially due to the direct metabolic effects of AAs.