GRAFT PANCREATITIS - AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM IN PANCREAS TRANSPLANTATION

In clinical pancreatic organ transplantation a so-called early graft p ancreatitis can be observed. It develops within the first hours after reestablishment of the blood flow of the graft in the recipient. This pancreatitis can achieve clinical relevance and even lead to graft fai lure. In a porcine model we could demonstrate the morphological and bi ochemical development of this type of pancreatitis in the various phas es of the process of transplantation. We observed a continuous and pro gressive development of this pathological condition during removal of the organ, cold ischemia and within the first hours after implantation . Therefore any attempts to reduce graft pancreatitis have to begin as early as' during organ retrieval. The presented animal model seems to be of clinical relevance for studying graft pancreatitis.