How to Recognize a Suitable Pancreas Donor: A Eurotransplant Study of Preprocurement Factors

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2008-06, Vol.40 (5), p.1275-1278
• Main Authors: Vinkers, M.T, Rahmel, A.O, Slot, M.C, Smits, J.M, Schareck, W.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABO Blood-Group System; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Child; Child, Preschool; Europe; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Heart Arrest; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreas Transplantation - methods; Pancreas Transplantation - physiology; Patient Selection; Regression Analysis; Stroke; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tissue and Organ Procurement - methods; Tissue Donors - statistics & numerical data; Tissue, organ and graft immunology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.03.142

Abstract Introduction Because of the increasing demand for pancreas transplantation, more marginal donors are offered to Eurotransplant. The aim of this study was to validate a donor quality score that would facilitate recognition of a suitable pancreas donor among all reported donors. Materials and methods We analyzed all 3180 consecutively reported pancreas donors for the period between January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2005 and determined the influence of the preprocurement pancreas suitability score (P-PASS) on the acceptance of a pancreas. We defined a range and point weight for each variable based on clinical expertise and known literature. Results Multiple regression analysis using pancreas acceptance as an outcome variable identified P-PASS ≥ 17 as a significant cutoff point ( P < .001). Pancreata from donors with P-PASS ≥ 17 were three times more likely to be refused. Conclusion The donor score can help in screening for potential pancreas donors, where an ideal donor has a P-PASS < 17. Our data demonstrate that consideration of a combination of preprocurement factors can help identify a suitable pancreas donor. Therefore, we recommend that a pancreas donor score be calculated for each potential pancreas donor, and all donors with a P-PASS < 17 should be considered for pancreas donation.