Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biopsy Sampling of the Pancreas Transplant- The Future of Graft Surveillance?
1Section of Nephrology, Department of Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
2Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
3Department of Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
4Department of Radiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
5Metabolic and Renal Research Group, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 173
Keywords: Biopsy, Pancreas transplantation, Rejection
Session Information
Session Name: Concurrent Session: Pancreas Transplantation
Session Type: Concurrent Session
Date: Sunday, April 30, 2017
Session Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Presentation Time: 4:30pm-4:42pm
Location: E267
Background:
Pancreas transplantation (PTX) can improve morbidity and potentially increase survival in selected patients with brittle diabetes. Development of a successful and safe biopsy monitoring program may improve clinical outcomes for PTX patients.
Methods:
We changed the surgical PTX technique in September 2012 from jejunal to duodenal exocrine drainage to allow for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided transduodenal biopsies of the pancreas graft.
We retrospectively evaluated the success rate September 2012- November 2016 for obtaining biopsies that could be evaluated according to the Banff criteria. The results were compared with those obtained with transcutaneous indication PTX biopsies taken during the same period of time. 
Results:
Our study included 185 protocol EUS biopsies, 50% yielded tissue representative for BANFF classification and were categorized as successful. The success rate increased continuously during the study period (see figure). In 2016 73% of the EUS biopsies were successful, which is comparable to our results from transcutaneous indication PTX biopsies with equivalent value 77% (n=59). Six patients developed mild pancreatitis after EUS, but no severe complications were registered. 
Conclusion:
Our experience so far is that EUS is an efficient and safe way to monitor PTX function and may replace percutaneous biopsy as a diagnostic method in the future.
CITATION INFORMATION: Nordheim E, Paulsen V, Lars A, Horneland R, Brabrand K, Hartmann A, Jenssen T. Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biopsy Sampling of the Pancreas Transplant- The Future of Graft Surveillance? Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Nordheim E, Paulsen V, Lars A, Horneland R, Brabrand K, Hartmann A, Jenssen T. Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biopsy Sampling of the Pancreas Transplant- The Future of Graft Surveillance? [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/endoscopic-ultrasound-guided-biopsy-sampling-of-the-pancreas-transplant-the-future-of-graft-surveillance/. Accessed May 13, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress