Preface

Allograft is a medical procedure in which there is a transfer of cells, tissues, or organs between genetically nonidentical members of the same species. Allografts are commonly used in the transplants of skin, corneas, hearts, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and bone and bone marrow, although transplants of the latter often come from relatives.

Allograft transplants have been done for more than 150 years, and during this time the processes for ensuring safety have developed. Allograft transplants are becoming increasingly common, with around 2 or 3 million done every year worldwide.

Transplant material is obtained from a donor who is a living person, a deceased person's body receiving mechanical support or ventilation, or a deceased person's body whose heart has stopped beating. Screening for pathology and risk factors for communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C is then conducted.

The use of allogeneic (nonself) cells, tissue, and organs carries a high risk of immune rejection and therefore requires tissue matching between donor and recipient. It also involves the administration of immunosuppressive drugs. However, the mechanisms of allogeneic rejection are different among the types of cells, tissues, and organs. Therefore, prevention and treatment strategies for allogeneic rejection are different.

This book includes nine chapters that provide recent evolutive information on scientific and therapeutic advances in allografting. In the section on solid organ allografts, chapters discuss prevention of rejection, pediatric ventricular assist devices, and desensitization. In the section on tissue allografts, chapters discuss success and ethical decision-making in vascularized composite allotransplantation, mitral valve allograft in the treatment of tricuspid valve pathology, the clinical implication of cardiac valve allografts in rare surgical circumstances, and allogeneic islet transplantation. In the section on particulate allografts, chapters discuss particulate allografts (DFDBA) combined with platelet concentrate for sinus lifts and post-extraction bone grafting in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

I would also like to thank all the contributors for their help in making this special book useful and interesting for readers.

> **Norihide Fukushima** Professor, Senri Kinran University Graduate School of Nursing, Suita, Japan

> > Visiting Director, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan

Section 1
