Viaspan
Encyclopedia
Viaspan, also known as University of Wisconsin solution (UW solution), was the first solution thoughtfully designed for use in organ transplant
ation, and became the first intracellular
-like preservation medium. Developed by Folkert Belzer and James Southard for pancreas
preservation in the late 1980s, the solution soon displaced EuroCollins solution as the preferred medium for cold storage of liver
s and kidney
s, as well as pancreas. The solution has also been used for heart
s and other organ
s. Viaspan remains what is often called the gold standard
for organ preservation, despite the development of other solutions that are in some respects superior.
The guiding principles for the development of Viaspan were:
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
ation, and became the first intracellular
Intracellular
Not to be confused with intercellular, meaning "between cells".In cell biology, molecular biology and related fields, the word intracellular means "inside the cell".It is used in contrast to extracellular...
-like preservation medium. Developed by Folkert Belzer and James Southard for pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
preservation in the late 1980s, the solution soon displaced EuroCollins solution as the preferred medium for cold storage of liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
s and kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
s, as well as pancreas. The solution has also been used for heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
s and other organ
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
s. Viaspan remains what is often called the gold standard
Gold standard (disambiguation)
Gold standard may refer to:*Gold standard - A monetary standard under which the basic unit of currency is equal in value to and exchangeable for a specified amount of gold....
for organ preservation, despite the development of other solutions that are in some respects superior.
The guiding principles for the development of Viaspan were:
- osmoticOsmosisOsmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, aiming to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides...
concentration maintained by the use of metabolically inert substances like lactobionate and raffinoseRaffinoseRaffinose is a trisaccharide composed of galactose, fructose, and glucose. It can be found in beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains. Raffinose can be hydrolyzed to D-galactose and sucrose by the enzyme α-galactosidase , an enzyme not found in the...
rather than with glucoseGlucoseGlucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate... - Hydroxyethyl starchHydroxyethyl starchHydroxyethyl starch is a nonionic starch derivative. It is one of the most frequently used volume expander under the trade names Hespan by B. Braun Medical Inc...
(HES) is used to prevent edemaEdemaEdema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling... - Substances are added to scavenge free radicalsRadical (chemistry)Radicals are atoms, molecules, or ions with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. Free radicals may have positive, negative, or zero charge...
, along with steroidSteroidA steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s and insulinInsulinInsulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
.
Composition
- Potassium lactobionate: 100 mM
- KH2PO4Potassium phosphatePotassium phosphate is a generic term for the salts of potassium and phosphate ions including:* Monopotassium phosphate * Dipotassium phosphate * Tripotassium phosphate...
: 25 mM - MgSO4Magnesium sulfateMagnesium sulfate is a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, with the formula MgSO4. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate epsomite , commonly called Epsom salt, from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England, where the salt was distilled from the springs that arise where the...
: 5 mM - RaffinoseRaffinoseRaffinose is a trisaccharide composed of galactose, fructose, and glucose. It can be found in beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains. Raffinose can be hydrolyzed to D-galactose and sucrose by the enzyme α-galactosidase , an enzyme not found in the...
: 30 mM - Adenosine: 5 mM
- GlutathioneGlutathioneGlutathione is a tripeptide that contains an unusual peptide linkage between the amine group of cysteine and the carboxyl group of the glutamate side-chain...
: 3 mM - AllopurinolAllopurinolAllopurinol is a drug used primarily to treat hyperuricemia and its complications, including chronic gout.- Mechanism of action :...
: 1 mM - Hydroxyethyl starchHydroxyethyl starchHydroxyethyl starch is a nonionic starch derivative. It is one of the most frequently used volume expander under the trade names Hespan by B. Braun Medical Inc...
: 50 g/L