Achievements and challenges in composite tissue allotransplantation
Stefan Schneeberger, Luis Landin, Jerzy Jableki, Peter Butler, Christoph Hoehnke, Gerald Brandacher, Emmanuel Morelon, ESOT CTA Working Group, Stefan Schneeberger, Luis Landin, Jerzy Jableki, Peter Butler, Christoph Hoehnke, Gerald Brandacher, Emmanuel Morelon, ESOT CTA Working Group
Abstract
Overall, more than 60 hand/forearm/arm transplantations and 16 face transplantations have been performed in the past 12 years. In the European experience summarized here, three grafts have been lost in response to a vascular thrombosis (n = 1), rejection and incompliance with immunosuppression (n = 1) and death (n = 1). The overall functional and esthetic outcome is very satisfactory, but serious side effects and complications related to immunosuppression are challenges hindering progress in this field. The high levels of immunosuppression, skin rejection, nerve regeneration, donor legislation and the acceptance level need to be addressed to promote growth of this promising new field in transplantation and reconstructive surgery.
© 2011 The Authors. Transplant International © 2011 European Society for Organ Transplantation.
Source: PubMed