Found this from Mass. General Hospital, Boston
The Transplant Trick
"To deal with the problem, the thymus has a system whereby it destroys all T cells that target “self.” (Problems with this system can cause autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.)
Sachs is convinced that inducing mixed chimerism was an important step in achieving transplant success without immunosuppressants. But other researchers have doubts, though the results of their trials have done little to settle the debate. Some researchers have reported that chimeric patients have been unable to stop taking immunosuppressants, whereas others have reported that patients, without ever achieving chimerism, have gone off the drugs. Some
scientists even point to Sachs’s own trial as evidence that chimerism may not be the key to tolerance. Though all of his patients were initially chimeric, their chimerism disappeared after a few weeks. “So is chimerism really necessary to achieve tolerance? I find it more and more mystifying,” says Shapiro."
http://www.protomag.com/assets/organ-rejection-chimerism?page=4
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
transplant success without immunosuppressants
- By martzj
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 5:37 pm · 0 replies
- In Advice for other women with heart disease
- Shared with the public
0 Recommendations
Add to the discussion