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Standardizing skin biopsy sampling to assess rejection in vascularized composite allotransplantation
Author(s) -
Hautz Theresa,
Zelger Bettina G.,
Weißenbacher Annemarie,
Zelger Bernhard,
Brandacher Gerald,
Landin Luis,
Morelon Emmanuel,
Kanitakis Jean,
Jablecki Jerzy,
Lee W.P. Andrew,
Pratschke Johann,
Schneeberger Stefan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12086
Subject(s) - medicine , allotransplantation , transplantation , graft rejection , surgery , biopsy , pathology
Over 70 hands and 20 faces have been transplanted during the past 13 yr, which have shown good to excellent functional and esthetic outcomes. However, (skin) rejection episodes complicate the post‐operative courses of hand and face transplant recipients and are still a major obstacle to overcome after reconstructive allotransplantation. This article summarizes all relevant information on the skin component and rejection of a vascularized composite allograft. As more and more centers plan to implement a vascularized composite allotransplantation ( VCA ) program, we further develop guidelines and recommendations on collection and processing of skin biopsies from hand and face allograft recipients. This will help to standardize post‐operative monitoring, avoid pitfalls for those new in the field and facilitate comparison of data on VCA between centers.