P-215

A summary of 12 autologous-islet transplant isolations at the University of Virginia

K. Brayman, L. Langman, P. Chhabra
University of Virginia, Surgery, Transplant Division, Charlottesville, USA

Objective: The objective is to present islet isolation data from a group of 11 patients qualified for autologous pancreatic islet transplants following chronic pancreatitis at the University of Virginia.

Methods: Patients with chronic pancreatitis were referred to the UVa surgical team for autologous islet transplant evaluation. The pancreas was surgically removed by the transplant division and sent to the GMP pancreatic islet processing facility. The islets were isolated using the Ricordi method, purified using Biocoll gradient and loaded into a sterile infusion bag containing transplant media. Adjustments made to enhance islet yield in chronic pancreatitis patients at UVa include;

Increase neutral protease concentration by .1mg/gram pancreas; prolonged organ inflation using Liberase MTF/NP enzyme; and cutting the fibrotic organ into smaller pieces to expose more parenchyma

Results: 11 of 12 preparations were transplanted. Patients ranged from ages 15 to 62. The average organ weight from pancreatitis patients was 50g of hard tissue, digestion time averaged 29minutes, viability 91%. The number of islet equivalents transplanted ranged from 52,000-300,000 but was independent of the original pancreas weight. Purity of autologous transplants averaged 25%. Age matched normal organ donor data collected in our facility noted an average pancreas weight of 84 grams of soft tissue, an average of 350,000 islet equivalents, 95% viability and 50% purity. Clearly, the condition of chronic pancreatitis affects the success of islets isolation.

Summary: Our preliminary results indicate that modifications incorporated into islet isolation; namely increased neutral protease concentration, prolonged organ inflation and dissecting organ into >12 pieces, resulted in an improved digestion of fibrotic pancreas yielding higher purity possibly contributing to increased islet yield and improved transplant outcomes.

P-215

A summary of 12 autologous-islet transplant isolations at the University of Virginia

K. Brayman, L. Langman, P. Chhabra
University of Virginia, Surgery, Transplant Division, Charlottesville, USA

Objective: The objective is to present islet isolation data from a group of 11 patients qualified for autologous pancreatic islet transplants following chronic pancreatitis at the University of Virginia.

Methods: Patients with chronic pancreatitis were referred to the UVa surgical team for autologous islet transplant evaluation. The pancreas was surgically removed by the transplant division and sent to the GMP pancreatic islet processing facility. The islets were isolated using the Ricordi method, purified using Biocoll gradient and loaded into a sterile infusion bag containing transplant media. Adjustments made to enhance islet yield in chronic pancreatitis patients at UVa include;

Increase neutral protease concentration by .1mg/gram pancreas; prolonged organ inflation using Liberase MTF/NP enzyme; and cutting the fibrotic organ into smaller pieces to expose more parenchyma

Results: 11 of 12 preparations were transplanted. Patients ranged from ages 15 to 62. The average organ weight from pancreatitis patients was 50g of hard tissue, digestion time averaged 29minutes, viability 91%. The number of islet equivalents transplanted ranged from 52,000-300,000 but was independent of the original pancreas weight. Purity of autologous transplants averaged 25%. Age matched normal organ donor data collected in our facility noted an average pancreas weight of 84 grams of soft tissue, an average of 350,000 islet equivalents, 95% viability and 50% purity. Clearly, the condition of chronic pancreatitis affects the success of islets isolation.

Summary: Our preliminary results indicate that modifications incorporated into islet isolation; namely increased neutral protease concentration, prolonged organ inflation and dissecting organ into >12 pieces, resulted in an improved digestion of fibrotic pancreas yielding higher purity possibly contributing to increased islet yield and improved transplant outcomes.