BACKGROUND: Composite tissue allotransplantation of hand, facial and other tissues is now a clinical reality. The terminology, treatment principles, drug combinations, dosage schedules and mechanisms of the immunosuppression medications on which contemporary transplant surgery is based are unfamiliar to plastic surgeons and most healthcare providers outside the field of transplantation medicine. With this in mind, the purpose of this manuscript is to provide plastic surgeons with a comprehensive and understandable review of key immunological principles relevant to composite tissue allotransplantation. METHODS: We present an overview of the immunological basis of composite tissue allotransplantation aimed at the plastic surgery readership, based on our own experience plus manuscripts sourced from MEDLINE, EMBASE, text books, ancient manuscripts and illustrations. RESULTS: In this manuscript we provide the reader with a brief history of composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA), a concise description of the immunological terminology, treatment approaches, risks associated with immunosuppressive therapy, risk acceptance, and current research avenues relating to contemporary CTA. CONCLUSION: Today, as transplant and reconstructive surgeons join forces to move hand and facial tissue allotransplantation into the clinical arena, it is important that plastic surgeons have an understanding of the major immunological principles upon which this new treatment is based.
BACKGROUND: Composite tissue allotransplantation of hand, facial and other tissues is now a clinical reality. The terminology, treatment principles, drug combinations, dosage schedules and mechanisms of the immunosuppression medications on which contemporary transplant surgery is based are unfamiliar to plastic surgeons and most healthcare providers outside the field of transplantation medicine. With this in mind, the purpose of this manuscript is to provide plastic surgeons with a comprehensive and understandable review of key immunological principles relevant to composite tissue allotransplantation. METHODS: We present an overview of the immunological basis of composite tissue allotransplantation aimed at the plastic surgery readership, based on our own experience plus manuscripts sourced from MEDLINE, EMBASE, text books, ancient manuscripts and illustrations. RESULTS: In this manuscript we provide the reader with a brief history of composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA), a concise description of the immunological terminology, treatment approaches, risks associated with immunosuppressive therapy, risk acceptance, and current research avenues relating to contemporary CTA. CONCLUSION: Today, as transplant and reconstructive surgeons join forces to move hand and facial tissue allotransplantation into the clinical arena, it is important that plastic surgeons have an understanding of the major immunological principles upon which this new treatment is based.
Authors: David W Mathes; Billanna Hwang; Scott S Graves; James Edwards; Jeff Chang; Barry E Storer; Tiffany Butts-Miwongtum; George E Sale; Richard A Nash; Rainer Storb Journal: Transplantation Date: 2011-12-27 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: David W Mathes; Marie Noland; Scott Graves; Robert Schlenker; Tiffany Miwongtum; Rainer Storb Journal: J Reconstr Microsurg Date: 2010-01-27 Impact factor: 2.873
Authors: Christian Andreas Radu; Jurij Kiefer; Dominik Horn; Martin Rebel; Eva Koellensperger; Martha Maria Gebhard; Henning Ryssel; Guenter Germann; Matthias Artur Reichenberger Journal: Eplasty Date: 2011-09-15
Authors: Ralf Smeets; Carsten Rendenbach; Moritz Birkelbach; Ahmed Al-Dam; Alexander Gröbe; Henning Hanken; Max Heiland Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-06-09 Impact factor: 3.411