The role of anti-pig antibody in pig-to-baboon cardiac xenotransplant rejection.

The role of naturally produced antibody in discordant xenograft rejection is still uncertain. Twelve orthotopic pig-to-baboon heart transplants (HTx) were performed. In 2 baboons, no antibody adsorption (AbA) was performed. In 5 baboons, AbA with a pig lung was performed during circulatory arrest. In 5 baboons, AbA and blood exsanguination at the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were performed. Baboons were divided into 2 groups; group I (n=4) died within 24 hr of HTx and group 2 (n=8) survived more than 24 hr. Mean survival period was 9.8±3.0 hr in group 1 and 151±33 hr in group 2