Transplantation

Transplantation is a medical procedure where an organ or tissue is moved from one location to another, either within the same body or between two different bodies. The purpose of transplantation is to replace an absent or malfunctioning organ or tissue. The organ or tissue that is transplanted is called a graft. The body that receives the graft is called the host.

Types of Transplantation

There are several types of transplantation, including:

• Autograft: This is a graft that is taken from one part of the host's body and transplanted to another part of the same body. This is often done in skin grafts and bone grafts.

• Allograft: This is a graft that is taken from one individual and transplanted to another individual of the same species. This is the most common type of transplantation, and includes most organ transplants.

• Xenograft: This is a graft that is taken from one species and transplanted to another species. This is less common, but includes pig heart valve transplants.

• Isograft: This is a graft that is taken from one individual and transplanted to another genetically identical individual, such as an identical twin.

Transplant Rejection

One of the major challenges of transplantation is transplant rejection. This occurs when the host's immune system recognizes the graft as foreign and attacks it. There are several types of transplant rejection, including acute rejection, chronic rejection, and hyperacute rejection.

Immunosuppression

To prevent transplant rejection, most transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives. These drugs suppress the immune system, reducing the risk of rejection. However, they also increase the risk of infection and other complications.

See Also

• Organ donation
• Organ transplantation
• Tissue engineering

Transplantation Resources
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