Effects of intrahepatic canine islet autotransplantation on the portal vein pressure and liver function.

Currently, the most common method used for human islet transplantation is intrahepatic implantation via the portal vein, which may affect portal vein pressure and liver function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrahepatic canine islet autotransplantation on portal vein pressure and liver function. After total pancreatectomy was performed in 30 mongrel dogs, islets were isolated and transplanted back into the portal vein of the same dog. In our series, 12 dogs achieved normoglycemia (fasting glucose <200 mg/dL) without exogenous insulin after transplantation. The portal vein pressure increased from 4.6 +/- 1.5 to 7.7 +/- 2.9 cm H(2)O after islet infusion (P < .05). Alanine transferase amino transferase (ALT) levels gradually increased after pancreatectomy with the peak at 4 weeks after islet infusion. But the changes of portal vein pressure and ALT were not significantly different between successful and failed islet transplantation. In summary, elevation of portal vein pressure and liver enzymes were noted after intrahepatic canine islet autotransplantation. However, they did not influence the transplant outcome.