Transplantats

Transplantats, or transplant grafts, are biological tissues or organs transplanted from a donor to a recipient to replace damaged or failing tissue. They can include whole organs such as kidneys or livers, or tissues such as skin, bone, or cornea.

Types of transplantats include autografts (from the same individual), allografts (from a donor of the same species), and xenografts (from a donor of a different species). Isografts, between genetically identical individuals, are also described in some contexts. The choice depends on tissue availability, compatibility, and the intended function of the graft.

Procedure and immunology: Before transplantation, compatibility testing such as blood type matching and histocompatibility testing (for example HLA typing) is performed. After surgery, recipients usually require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection, often combining calcineurin inhibitors, antiproliferatives, and corticosteroids. Rejection can be hyperacute, acute, or chronic. Monitoring involves clinical assessment, laboratory tests, imaging, and sometimes graft biopsies to detect damage or rejection.

Indications and challenges: Transplantats are indicated for organ failure, severe tissue loss, or certain metabolic diseases. Key challenges include donor shortages, the risk of transplant rejection, infections, and adverse effects from immunosuppressive drugs. Ethical considerations, allocation policies, and long-term graft function are central to practice.

Other developments: Advances in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and the use of artificial or bioengineered grafts aim to reduce dependence on donor tissue and improve graft integration. Ongoing research seeks to optimize graft survival, function, and safety while minimizing immunosuppression toxicity.