| Popis: |
Aside from the cornea, a structure that is not vascularized, the aortic and pulmonary valves are the only tissues that can be successfully transplanted without immunosup-pression of the recipient. This has led to speculation as to whether the transplanted heart valve is immunologically privileged in a manner analogous to the cornea. This chapter will discuss the evidence for an immunologic capacity of the allograft valve, the response of the recipient to allograft implantation, and the pathologic consequences. Also discussed are the possible therapeutic manipulations that may alter these properties. |
