title: Influence of donor age on islet isolation and transplantation outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that the age of human organ donors might influence islet isolation and transplantation outcome in a negative way due to a decrease of in vivo function in islets isolated from older donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 332 islet isolations according to donor age. We determined isolation outcome by islet yields, transplantation rates, and [beta]-cell function in vitro. Transplanted patients were divided into two groups depending on donor age (n=25 and n=31 patients for <=45- and >45-year-old donors, respectively). We assessed islet graft function by C-peptide/glucose ratio, [beta] score, secretory units of islets in transplantation index, and insulin independence rate at 1, 6, and 12 months after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in islet yields between the two groups (251,900+/-14,100 and 244,600+/-8400 islet equivalent for <=45- and >45-year-old donors, respectively). Transplantation rates and stimulation indices were similar in both groups as well. All islet graft function parameters were significantly higher at 1-month follow-up in patients who had received islets from younger donors. At 6-month follow-up after second or third injection and at 12-month follow-up, secretory units of islets in transplantation indices and C-peptide/glucose ratios were significantly higher in patients with donors aged 45 years or younger.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that, despite similar outcomes of the isolation procedure, islet graft function is significantly influenced by donor age. These results may have important consequences in the definition of pancreas allocation criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cell Isolation and Transplantation Center, Geneva, Switzerland. nadja.niclauss@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niclauss
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demuylder-Mischler
authors.forename: Coralie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brault
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milliat-Guittard
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parnaud
authors.forename: Yannick D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Laurianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovannoni
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toso
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badet
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Benhamou
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin