Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is considered to be a MAJOR mechanism for organ transplant failure. Allopurinol is used in organ preservation as:
The most commonly used solution for organ storage and flushing is the University of Wisconsin solution that contains lactobionate, raffinose, adenosine (a precursor for ATP generation), magnesium sulfate (to retard calcium influx), glutathione (as an antioxidant), and allopurinol (to inhibit xanthine oxidase induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation). Ref: Immunobiology of Organ Transplantation edited by David S. Wilkes, William J. Burlingham, 2004, Page 548, 560.
Antioxidant
Preservative
Free radical scavenger
Precursor for energy metabolism