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Abstract Pancreas and islet cell transplantation are used in the treatment of patients with diabetes complications. During static cold storage (SCS) ATP is depleted, and by-products of anaerobic respiration accumulate. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) affects quantity and viability of islets and it is characterised by acinar necrosis, oedema, and endothelial disruption (graft pancreatitis). The introduction of HMPO2 in liver & kidney preservation has demonstrated a significant reduction in the consequences of IRI. Pancreas HMPO2 was shown to be feasible in pre-clinical studies. We aimed to compare a ‘continuous’ to an ‘end-ischaemic’ approach of HMPO2 in pancreases using a porcine circulatory death model. Porcine pancreases were either started on HMPO2 for the totality of the cold storage time (‘Continuous’ group, n=6) or for the last two hours of the cold storage time (‘End’ group, n=6). All pancreases then underwent normothermic reperfusion (NR) to mimic transplantation. Glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was measured using Mercodia human insulin ELISA (n=3 in each group). Both groups had no significant change of wet-to-dry ratio during the experiment, despite an increase in gross weight. Flows were higher during NR in the Continuous group. Amylase, Lipase and LDH increased throughout the study for all pancreases and showed no statistically significant difference between both groups. The Continuous group had a significantly greater insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation and followed a biphasic pattern. Continuous HMPO2 preserved islet function and was a superior mode of preservation, showing no statistically significant difference in oedema or markers of damage, with improved perfusion parameters.
Elzawahry et al. (Fri,) studied this question.