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First experience with heterotopic thoracic pig‐to‐baboon cardiac xenotransplantation
Author(s) -
Bauer Andreas,
Postrach Johannes,
Thormann Michael,
Blanck Stefanie,
Faber Claudius,
Wintersperger Bernd,
Michel Sebastian,
Abicht JanMichael,
Christ Frank,
Schmitz Christoph,
Schmoeckel Michael,
Reichart Bruno,
Brenner Paolo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2010.00587.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , baboon , medicine , intensive care medicine , transplantation
Bauer A, Postrach J, Thormann M, Blanck S, Faber C, Wintersperger B, Michel S, Abicht J‐M, Christ F, Schmitz C, Schmoeckel M, Reichart B, Brenner P. First experience with heterotopic thoracic pig‐to‐baboon cardiac x enotransplantation.
Xenotransplantation 2010; 17: 243–249. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: Heterotopic thoracic heart transplantation may be an alternative to the established heterotopic abdominal or orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation model as it combines the safety of heterotopic transplantation with the benefit of a working heart model. Methods: In a first series of two animals, we tested the surgical feasibility of this procedure with non‐transgenic pig hearts transplanted into pre‐sensitized baboons (killed after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass). In a second group (n = 2), double‐transgenic α(1,3)galactosyl‐transferase knock out/hCD46 pig hearts were transplanted into naïve baboons after immunoadsorption. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of anti‐CD20‐mAb, tacrolimus, sirolimus, MMF and steroids. Results: The first baboon was successfully transplanted, but died of an air embolism, while in the second animal graft survival was 50 days with the recipient in good physical condition. One rejection reaction was successfully treated by immunoadsorption, ATG and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. Post‐mortem histopathology showed no evidence for humoral or cellular rejection of the cardiac xenograft. Conclusions: This is the first description of a heterotopic thoracic pig‐to‐baboon heart transplantation. The procedure combines the advantages of a working heart model with the safety of heterotopic transplantation. In contrast to orthotopic transplantation, the recipient heart can assist the donor heart during episodes of rejection. We believe that the heterotopic thoracic model may accelerate the progress into the clinical application of cardiac xenotransplantation. However, successful combination of this heterotopic transplantation with an experimental model of cardiac failure may be needed before this technique can be promoted to clinical trials.