Prolonged survival of canine orthotopic small intestinal allografts preserved for 24 hours by hypothermic bloodless perfusion.

Abstract

Whole orthotopic small intestinal transplants were carried out into moderately immunosuppressed dogs. Survival time was compared between the dogs with fresh grafts and those with grafts preserved by hypothermic bloodless pulsatile perfusion for 24 hours. Two perfusates were used during preservation; (1) cryoprecipitated pooled dog plasma or (2) human plasmanate. Survival was significantly better in the dogs which received the preserved grafts. The best survival time was achieved in intestinal allografts perfused with human plasmanate (mean survival, 45 days, the longest being 67 days). These results suggest that significant prolongation of allograft survival in moderately immunosuppressed animals might be achieved by modification of the immunogenicity of grafts either by preservation or by binding with non-specific xenogeneic antibodies in a perfusate solution.