Failure to prolong pancreatic islet allograft survival in rats with donor-specific blood transfusions and immunosuppression

Abstract

Abstract. The effects on pancreatic islet allograft survival of donor‐specific blood transfusions (DST) in combination with pre‐and posttransplant immunosuppression were studied. A total of 12 groups of rats (n= 105) with chemically induced diabetes underwent islet allotransplantation. Multiple DST or third‐party blood transfusions (TPT) were given prior to transplantation. Pretransplant immunosuppression consisted of azathioprine and prednisolone, and low‐dose cyclosporin A was used for posttransplant immunosuppression. TPT, as well as separate or combined pre‐and posttransplant immunosuppression without blood transfusions, did not prolong islet allograft survival. DST resulted in either primary nonfunction of the islet allografts or a markedly decreased islet allograft survival. These findings contrast with the beneficial effect of DST on whole‐organ allograft survival in rats previously described by others.