Acceptability of xenograft by patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and the general French population.

Objective - The possibility of using pig xenografts raises the questions of their acceptability and the reasons for reluctance by patients and society , which have not been clearly investigated in Europe. Research design and methods - A survey using a multiple-choice questionnair e was conducted to quantify the acceptability of pig xenografts in type 1 d iabetic patients potentially concerned by xenografts (n = 377) as compared to a sample of the French population (n = 697). Results - Willingness to accept a xenograft was significantly greater among diabetic patients than the general population (64% vs 54%, P < 0.001). The notion of using pig xenografts appears to be rather well accepted by the g eneral population, and more information might improve acceptability. The ac ceptance of xenografts in general and pig tissues in particular was higher in diabetic patients. Conclusions - Because the general population and type 1 diabetic patients a re not aware of the sanitary risks specifically related to a xenograft, the decision to use xenografts cannot be based simply on the expectations of p ossible recipients. The sanitary risks need to be assessed before further x enografts are performed, particularly in diabetic patients whose risn/benef it ratio is not particularly favourable. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.