Immunological donor pretreatment in combination with pulsatile preservation in cadaveric renal transplantation.

The extended experience on the efficacy of pretreating the cadaveric renal allograft donor by means of large doses of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone (group A, 36 kidneys) was compared with the experience regarding untreated renal allografts (group B, 32 kidneys). Kidneys in both groups were perfused by pulsatile means using cryoprecipitated plasma. There was a significant difference in allograft survival (72% in group A versus 36% in group B at 3 years by actuarial means). Also, large doses of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone as pretreatment did not cause any detrimental effect to the allograft kidney when used in combination with cryoprecipitated plasma and pulsatile perfusion.