Shock wave treatment in composite tissue allotransplantation.
BACKGROUND
Composite tissue allotransplantation is a newly emerged field of transplantation. Shock wave technology has already been used in the treatment of urologic and orthopedic disorders. Recent studies demonstrated a suppression of the early proinflammatory immune response.


METHODS
50 allogeneic hindlimb transplantations were performed on rats in 5 different groups. Group A (n = 10), (Lewis → Brown-Norway) received 500 impulses of extracorporeal shock wave. Groups B, C, D, and E served as control groups with group B (n = 10) receiving no immunosuppression, group C (n = 10) receiving FK506 and prednisolone, group D (n = 10) receiving no immunosuppression with isograft transplantations (Brown-Norway → Brown-Norway) and group E receiving 500 impulses of extracorporeal shock wave on the contralateral hindlimb.


RESULTS
Rejection of the allogeneic hindlimb occurred on average 7.12 days after transplantation in group A (extracorporeal shock wave). Rejection was significantly delayed compared to the control groups B (no immunosuppression) and E (contralateral hindlimb), where rejection of the allogeneic hindlimb occurred on average 5.49 and 5.6 days after transplantation (t test, P < .01). No rejection was seen in groups C and D.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, shock waves have been applied in a composite tissue allotransplantation model and resulted in a significant immunosuppressive effect. These promising first results have showed that shock wave treatment is clinically relevant in composite tissue allotransplantation and justify subsequent research to improve the experimental and clinical outcome.
Christian Andreas
CA
Radu
Jurij
J
Kiefer
Dominik
D
Horn
Martin
M
Rebel
Eva
E
Koellensperger
Martha Maria
MM
Gebhard
Henning
H
Ryssel
Guenter
G
Germann
Matthias Artur
MA
Reichenberger