Dopamine primes kidneys for a new host

Transplant patients may fare better if brain-dead organ donors receive an infusion of the compound before surgery

Giving dopamine infusions to brain-dead organ donors while they still have a heartbeat seems to fortify their kidneys against the rigors of transplant, a new study shows. Patients receiving a kidney from such donors are less likely to require multiple sessions of blood-cleansing dialysis immediately after the transplant operation, researchers report in the Sept.