Normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) can resuscitate marginal lung allografts to increase organs available for transplantation. During normothermic perfusion, cellular metabolism is more active compared with subnormothermic perfusion, creating a need for an oxygen (O2) carrier in the perfusate. As an O2 carrier, red blood cells (RBCs) are a scarce resource and are susceptible to hemolysis in perfusion circuits, thus releasing cell-free hemoglobin (Hb), which can extravasate into the tissue space, thus promoting scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative tissue damage. Fortunately, polymerized human Hb (PolyhHb) represents a synthetic O2 carrier with a larger molecular diameter compared with Hb, preventing extravasation, and limiting adverse reactions. In this study, a next-generation PolyhHb-based perfusate was compared to both RBC and asanguinous perfusates in a rat EVLP model. During EVLP, the pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were both significantly higher in lungs perfused with RBCs, which is consistent with RBC hemolysis. Lungs perfused with PolyhHb demonstrated greater oxygenation than those perfused with RBCs. Post-EVLP analysis revealed that the PolyhHb perfusate elicited less cellular damage, extravasation, iron tissue deposition, and edema than either RBCs or colloid control. These results show promise for a next-generation PolyhHb to maintain lung function throughout EVLP.
