title: Effect of the embolization of completely unpurified islets on portal vein pressure and hepatic biochemistry in clinical practice.
abstract: Here we report on the impact of completely unpurified islet transplantation on the portal vein pressure (PVP) and the hepatic biochemistry in the peritransplant period and on follow-up. Type I diabetic patients underwent simultaneous kidney and islet transplantation. Islets were not purified from the acinar tissue to prevent loss of endocrine mass. Each patient received a mean 521,846 +/- 201,539.4 islet equivalents (7812.1 islet equivalents/kg/recipient). Immunosuppression and peritransplant medication were given according to the Giessen protocol. The islets were injected into the left hepatic lobe through the umbilical vein. PVP was recorded at time 0 and every 5 min throughout cell infusion. Liver function was assessed daily for the first 10 days, and on follow-up. Basal, peak, and final PVP were 12 +/- 3.8, 25.1 +/- 7.9, and 19.5 +/- 6.2 mmHg, respectively (basal vs. final, p < 0.05). Bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, prothrombin time, and APTT stayed within normal range. Peak aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum amylase were 109.4 +/- 61.2 IU/L (basal vs. peak, not significant), 79.5 +/- 56.9 IU/L (basal vs. peak, not significant), and 887.5 +/- 153.6 IU/L (basal vs. peak, p = 0.02), respectively. In all cases AST, ALT, and amylase normalized within 6 days posttransplant and remained so on follow-up (longest control, 33 months posttransplant). Although the intrahepatic infusion of unpurified pancreatic islets affects both the portal vein pressure and the hepatic biochemical profile, this effect is transient and does not compromise the safety of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation Program, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Gascon 450, Buenos Aires 1181, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: María Candela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ceballos
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbich
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Groppa
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grosembacher
authors.forename: María Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vieiro
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barcan
authors.forename: Salomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Algranati
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Litwak
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Argibay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002102:Cadaver; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase