HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION - AUTO-TRANSPLANTATION AND ALLOTRANSPLANTATION IN PRIMATES WITH EXTENDED SURVIVAL

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 80  (3) , 360-372
Abstract
Heart and lung transplantation was performed in rhesus or cynomolgus monkeys to confirm the ability of primates to withstand complete cardiopulmonary denervation, to develop a satisfactory operative method and to obtain survival of allotransplant recipients using cyclosporin-A immune suppression. Monkeys (27) weighing 2.6-10.1 kg received autotransplants or allotransplants by 2 different operative techniques. Animals (17) were operated upon with hypothermia and circulatory arrest. One autotransplant recipient is alive at 368 days but all allotransport recipients (untreated) died within 5 days despite normal breathing patterns. Ten animals operated upon with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass fared better. Three autotransplant recipients are alive 60, 199 and 312 days postoperatively. Of 7 allotransplant recipients treated with cyclosporin-A (25 mg/kg, then tapered) and azathioprine (2 mg/kg for 14 days) 3 were long-term survivors; 1 died at 144 days of lymphoma and 2 are living 156 and 191 days postoperatively. Heart and lung transplantation evidently is possible in primates; allografted recipients can survive for extended periods with cyclosporin-A used for immune suppression.