Immune Response to Gelatin- and Collagen-Impregnated Aortic Dacron Grafts

Abstract

Dacron grafts are very common in vascular surgery. Primarily sealed grafts have been available for ten years. These improve handling and reduce intraoperative blood loss. Despite a widespread use all over the world, it has as yet not been clarified whether coating (sealing) substances might cause an immune response, especially in situations of fever or other unexplained events in the postoperative course after graft implantation. In this study, 37 patients with a gelatin-impregnated (Unigraft) and 33 with a collagen-impregnated (Hemashield) graft for aortic or aortoiliac replacement were compared. Serum samples were investigated for collagen antibodies at operation, one week and three months postoperatively. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test could not demonstrate the development of antibodies against type I, II, or III collagen in the perioperative period or three months postoperatively.

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