PHARMACOLOGICAL MANIPULATION OF ACUTE CYCLOSPORINE ISCHEMIC RENAL INJURY WITH TRIMETAZIDINE

Cyclosporin has had a major impact on organ transplantation, but associated nephrotoxicity is a significant problem. Renal hypothermia, a known anti-ischemic maneuver, limits cyclosporin-ischemic renal failure. Pharmacological manipulation with an anti-ischemic agent, such as trimetazidine, may prevent cyclosporin nephrotoxicity. We tested this hypothesis in a canine single kidney model of cyclosporin-enhanced ischemic renal failure. Trimetazidine treatment was associated with significantly better biochemical and histological markers of renal function and structure. Trimetazidine may have a role to play in protecting against cyclosporin nephrotoxicity in clinical renal transplantation.