Open AccessAllograft vasculopathy after allogeneic vascularized knee transplantation
Author(s) -
Diefenbeck Michael,
Nerlich Andreas,
Schneeberger Stefan,
Wagner Frithjof,
Hofmann Gunther O.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2010.01178.x
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , transplantation , allotransplantation , occlusion , graft rejection
Summary Composite tissue allotransplantation represents a new discipline in reconstructive surgery. Over the past 10 years, we have performed six human vascularized allogeneic knee transplantations. All of these grafts have been lost within the first 56 months. A histomorphologic assessment of the latest case resulted in the detection of diffuse concentric fibrous intimal thickening and occlusion of graft vessels. Findings are comparable with cardiac allograft vasculopathy. The lack of adequate tools for monitoring graft rejection might have allowed multiple untreated episodes of acute rejection, triggering myointimal proliferation and occlusion of graft vessels. Graft vasculopathy represents an obstacle to long‐term vascularized bone and joint allograft survival, and adequate tools for monitoring need to be developed.