Human islet isolation in 104 consecutive cases. Factors affecting isolation success

One of the major steps toward successful islet transplantation for the treatment of type diabetes is to obtain islets of sufficient number and viability. Using a standardized method of isolating islets, the goal of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the outcome of islet isolation. A total of 104 cadaveric human pancreata were processed for islets by the same team. Data from the islet-processing charts were reviewed retrospectively. The two endpoints were the recovery of islets, viable after 2 days of culture (group V = viable, group NV = nonviable) and the islet yield. Viable islets were recovered in 61% of cases (n = 63). Minimal blood glucose recorded during hospitalization was very significantly lower in group V (124 +/- 5 vs. 148 +/- 9, P = 0.01). Lack of significant medical history in the donor was associated with better viability as compared with various donor predispositions (chi-2 4.21, P = 0.04). Cold ischemia time (8.1 +/- 0.5 hr in group V vs. 9.8 +/- 0.9 hr in group NV, P = 0.07) and collagenase lot (5 lots tested, chi-2 13.1, P = 0.01) also affected the recovery of viable islets. Hospital time was shorter in group V (65.3 +/- 6.8 vs. 80.9 +/- 17.9 hr, P = 0.35). Multivariate logistic regression analyses of viable islet recovery identified minimal blood glucose (P = 0.03) and collagenase lot (P = 0.06) as the most significant risk factors. However, the best multivariate predictive model--which includes blood glucose, collagenase lot, donor age and surgical procurement team--correctly predicted 66.2% of cases only. Multivariate analysis of final islet yield designed hospitalization length, cardiorespiratory arrest, surgical procurement team, and collagenase lot as the best predictors. These data obtained in a large series of pancreata emphasized several donor and technical factors that should target the attention of islet transplant researchers in order to improve islet yield and viability.