The effect of immunosuppression on vascularised allografts. A preliminary report.
Five vascularised allografts of the knee joint were performed in dogs immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A and azathioprine. Three survived with normal function for 3 to 4 months after operation. One of the unsuccessful grafts had a failed vascular anastomosis, the other an inadequate blood level of cyclosporin A. All three successful grafts healed well. In two, bone scans, radiographs and biopsies were indistinguishable from successful autografts; in the third the blood supply to the graft failed despite patent anastomoses but the graft healed well with good function. All three grafts were rejected within 2 to 3 weeks of withdrawal of cyclosporin A and azathioprine. In non-immunosuppressed dogs, allografts of the knee, both vascularised and non-vascularised, were rejected within a few days of operation. In two non-vascularised allografts, administration of cyclosporin and azathioprine had no apparent effect on the rate of rejection of the graft.
St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.
K
K
Doi
G
G
DeSantis
D I
DI
Singer
J V
JV
Hurley
B
B
O'Brien
S M
SM
McKay
M J
MJ
Hickey
B F
BF
Murphy
D000818:Animals; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects
D003524:Cyclosporins; D001379:Azathioprine