Effect of Splenectomy and Autologous Spleen Transplantation on the Serum Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) Activity and Acute Phase Response (APR) in a Porcine Model

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory response after total splenectomy and spleen autotransplantation in a porcine model by measuring serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity, C-reactive protein and albumin concentrations. Nineteen piglets were used in the experiment. After induction of anesthesia, animals were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation with spleens intact (n = 6), total splenectomy (n = 6), and splenic autotransplantation (n = 7) with small fragments of the spleen autotransplanted into the greater omentum. The blood samples were taken just before surgery and on day 1st, 5th, 12th, 26th and 40th postoperatively. PAF-AH activity, CRP and albumin concentrations were assayed in the sera. After total splenectomy, PAF-AH activity was significantly increased on day 5th, while there was no significant increase after spleen autotransplantation or the sham-operation. CRP was significantly increased after surgery in all experimental groups. Albumin was significantly decreased after surgery from day 5th until day 40th in splenectomized and autotransplanted pigs. Increased PAF-AH activity after splenectomy and spleen autotransplantation might be attributed to inflammatory conditions due to the loss of splenic tissue and trauma. Time-course increase of CRP, in all groups after surgery suggests post-injury inflammatory response due to tissue lesion during operation.