IL-6 mediates numerous immunologic effects relevant to transplant rejection; however, its specific contributions to these processes are not fully understood. To this end, we neutralized IL-6 in settings of acute cardiac allograft rejection associated with either CD8(+) or CD4(+) cell-dominant responses. In a setting of CD8(+) cell-dominant graft rejection, IL-6 neutralization delayed the onset ...

Background: Human cornea expresses functional Fas-ligand capable of killing Fas+ activated lymphocytes. Fas expression is partly regulated by -670 A/G polymorphism in the promoter region of Fas gene. Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine the association between Fas-670A/G polymorphism and survival of corneal transplantation. Methods: In 276 graft recipients who mainly underwen...

The cornea is avascular, enjoys relative immune privilege, and immunosuppressive treatment can be directly applied: yet data from all available reports indicate that allogeneic rejection is the commonest cause of corneal graft failure. In Australia, 5 year actuarial corneal graft survival is 72%: irreversible rejection accounts for at least 33% of all graft failures.' Graft survival is much sho...

AIM To determine whether the addition of systemic corticosteroid to local intensive corticosteroid therapy of endothelial corneal allograft rejection improves outcome. METHODS A prospective randomised treatment trial was carried out at a tertiary referral centre. 36 consecutive corneal graft recipients, presenting with a first episode of endothelial graft rejection, received either (i) one in...

PURPOSE Immunologic rejection constitutes a major barrier to the success of allogeneic corneal transplants, but the specific mediators and mechanisms of graft rejection are poorly understood. Several studies have implicated cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses, typically associated with CD8(+) T cells, in promoting corneal graft rejection. This study sought to test the hypothesis that CTLs ar...

Background: Rejection is the most common cause of late corneal graft failure. The purpose of this study is determining the prevalence, and defining the role of those factors which may affect the risk for rejection. Methods: The study was conducted on all patients who had penetrating keratoplasty without immunosuppressive therapy with at least 1 year follow up. Demographic status, cause of graft...

Transplantation is an established and successful treatment for critically ill patients. For many of the organ transplant recipients (OTR) it is the only option for survival. When OTRs are asked about what they fear the most, the most common answer is graft rejection. Graft rejection is a real threat against an OTR since it is the body’s natural way, through its immunological defence, to protect...

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of thymoglobulin compared with basiliximab in patients who had kidney transplants and are at high risk for acute rejection and delayed graft function. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of patients who had 1 or more risk factors for acute rejection and delayed graft function and who were given either thymoglobulin or basiliximab for indu...

Immune rejections remain one of the most common causes of failure of penetrating keratoplasty. Epithelial rejection, chronic stromal rejection, hyperacute rejection and endothelial rejection constitute the different types of corneal graft rejection that might occur in isolation or conjunction. Various risk factors have been identified to increase the risk of graft rejections. With a recent adve...

Nuclear medicine imaging is routinely used for evaluation of perfusion and function of the transplanted kidneys. At present, the radiopharmaceutical of choice for this study in our center is Tc 99m-Ec. Complications of the kidney graft are demonstrable in the early and delayed images. One of these complications is vesicoureteral reflux to the graft or to the native kidneys. We present a 27 year...