Antigenicity of polyester (Dacron) vascular prostheses in an animal model

Objectives: to investigate the specific humoral immune response to three di fferent polyester (Dacron) prostheses in pigs. Design, materials and methods: twenty-four growing pigs were randomly divid ed into three groups. The infrarenal aorta was replaced by a segment of col lagen-impregnated woven polyester prosthesis (low, medium and high porosity ). Serum antibodies were detected by modified enzyme immunoassay using non- impregnated prosthesis as the target for the blood samples taken on experim ental days 1, 10, 17, 24, 62 and 116 of tile 22 pigs followed over the whol e observation period. Results: significantly enhanced (p<0.05) mean Ige antibody binding against polyester was detected on experimental days 10, 17, 24 and 62 with antibody prevalences of 41%, 41%, 32% and 37%, resppectively. Antibody positive pig s were divided into early responders (n=9) and late responders (n=5) with a ntibody detection on lilly 10 and/or 17 vs day 62 and/or 116. No significan t differences between the three different prostheses were found. The format ion of specific IgG against polyester in tile animals investigated demonstr ates a broad individual variability. Conclusions: polyester is art antigenic polymer. Specific antibodies, refle cting the inflammatory response, might be not only a parameter for testing biomaterials bat also for determining individual bio(in)compatibility for l ong-term biomaterial function.