Clinical Application of Perfluorocarbons for Organ Preservation

Abstract

Perfluorocarbons (PFC), which store and release high levels of oxygen, have been examined as oxygen carriers. PFC was first used in organ preservation as a component of the two-layer method (TLM). The TLM is comprised of University of Wisconsin solution [UW] and oxygenated PFC for pancreas preservation. Pancreata preserved in the TLM are oxygenated through the PFC and substrates are supplied by the UW. TLM has been shown to prolong the preservation period and repair pancreatic injury caused by warm ischemia.

Currently the TLM was used for pancreas preservation prior to clinical whole organ transplant. In this first clinical trial, the morphologic quality of the human pancreas graft after reperfusion was excellent compared with the pancreas stored in UW. In addition, there was no acute rejection episode of pancreata preserved by the TLM.

TLM preservation of human pancreata, without initial cold UW storage, prior to islet isolation, resulted in better isolation results and improved the success rate of islet transplantation. Thus preservation of human pancreata by the TLM has become an important process for successful islet transplantation.

Nowadays, PFC is routinely used for pancreas preservation prior to islet isolation, which has had a significant impact on curing type 1 diabetes.