Objective: The possibility of using pig xenografts raises the questions of their acceptability and the reasons for reluctance by patients and society, which have not been clearly investigated in Europe.
Research design and methods: A survey using a multiple-choice questionnaire was conducted to quantify the acceptability of pig xenografts in type 1 diabetic patients potentially concerned by xenografts (n = 377) as compared to a sample of the French population (n = 697).
Results: Willingness to accept a xenograft was significantly greater among diabetic patients than the general population (64% vs 54%, P < 0.001). The notion of using pig xenografts appears to be rather well accepted by the general population, and more information might improve acceptability. The acceptance of xenografts in general and pig tissues in particular was higher in diabetic patients.
Conclusions: Because the general population and type 1 diabetic patients are not aware of the sanitary risks specifically related to a xenograft, the decision to use xenografts cannot be based simply on the expectations of possible recipients. The sanitary risks need to be assessed before further xenografts are performed, particularly in diabetic patients whose risk/benefit ratio is not particularly favourable.