Intravascular thrombosis in discordant xenotransplantation

Abstract

A series of immunological and physiological barriers must be overcome for the successful clinical application of xenotransplantation. The acute phases of xenograft rejection have been prevented or at least attenuated by a variety of interventions including treatment of the recipient and genetic modification of the donor. However, recent data suggest that xenografts have a heightened susceptibility to intravascular thrombosis, a process that is emerging as a major contributor to xenograft loss. Current data strongly suggest that thrombosis is primarily a direct consequence of the rejection process, but it may also be facilitated by the failure of porcine regulators of coagulation to efficient..