title: Endoscopic features in a model of multivisceral xenotransplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xenotransplantation and multivisceral transplantation are advanced therapeutic methods that still require a scientific basis. There are no experimental models of multivisceral transplantation available, particularly not the monitoring by endoscopy. Here, we describe the endoscopic features in a model of multivisceral xenotransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distal esophagus, stomach, intestine, colon, liver, pancreas, and the kidneys with a common vascular pedicle were harvested from rabbits and implanted in swine (group I, n = 9) or in rabbits (group II, n = 4). Endoscopy was performed in the stomach, jejunum, and ascending colon at four consecutive time points (immediate after surgery and 10, 90, and 180 min after reperfusion). Lesions were macroscopically graded as mild, moderate, and severe. Biopsies were taken following sacrifice at 180 min after reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group I, the stomach, jejunum, and colon manifested a progression of lesions with predominance of mild lesions after 10 min, mild to moderate lesions after 90 min, and moderate to severe lesions after 180 min. In animals from group II, endoscopy showed normal features at all time points after reperfusion. Histopathologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of hyperacute rejection in group I. Grafts from group II animals presented normal or mild ischemic/reperfusion injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All animals subjected to multivisceral xenotransplantation showed a progression of endoscopic lesions with time after transplantation, while animals subjected to allotransplantation showed no aberrations in endoscopy. We conclude that endoscopy is a useful tool in the assessment of hyperacute rejection of a xenograft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. fgalvao@usp.br
authors.forename: Flávio Henrique Ferreira
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Alberto Queiroz
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pompeu
authors.forename: Daniel Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.forename: Antonio Roberto Franchi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Evandro Sobroza
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Anderson Costa Lino
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Raoni de Castro
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Vinicius Rocha
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Eleazar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chaib
authors.forename: Flair José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto Carneiro
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: D'Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D014781:Viscera / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*