This book represents a refreshing and broad view of the nature of allografts, as well as the challenges involved in their use as critical therapy for a variety of different health problems. It is the work of a group of very talented and experienced physicians representing different medical disciplines, but all of them intimately involved with the use of allografts, presenting their distilled experience. The notion of allografts is explored in specialty areas ranging from orthopaedics and thoracic surgery to kidney and liver transplantation, in an effort to identify certain common themes having to do with the immunological response to the allograft and the various methods to avoid rejection. Chapters in this book present current challenges in the use of bone allografts in complex orthopaedic procedures, in addition to dealing in depth with the use of hepatic and renal allografts in liver and kidney transplantation.
Complex issues, such as the role of the immune system trying to deal with allograft acceptance or rejection on the one hand, and the presence of hepatitis B or C infection on the other hand, with the addition of the possibility of coexisting hepatocellular malignancy, are at the core of this book. The authors present the therapeutic problems seen in clinical practice and offer possible solutions, based on their extensive experience. This book will be a valuable resource to scientists involved in disciplines such as transplantation, immunology, and orthopaedics, as the themes that are analysed here cover a broad range of areas.