Abstract
Many reports have been made about prolonged survival of transplanted organs by intended decrease of lymphocytes, which are intimately related to homograft rejection.
The author injected 198Au colloid into recipients' lymphatics for selective blockade of lymphatic tissues and proved that this method was applicable to clinical renal transplantation.
After transitory clamping of the thoracic duct at the venous angle, 198Au colloid was injected into lymphatic vessels on the dorsal side of both feet.
By this method, the mesenterial lymphnodes were also blocked so that 198Au col-loid was hardly moved into blood stream. Clamping was released 24 hours after injection. Peripheral lymphocytes began to decrease on the 4th day of injection, and one week later attained a level of 0-2%. The author's clinical data showed that a lymphocyte level of 7-8% was maintained even after six months. It is interesting that only γ-globulin levels were decreased in parallel with the lymphocyte counts.
This safe and simple method can reduce the dosis of immunosuppressants to a minimum and prolong the survival of either experimentally or clinically trans-planted kidneys. Second set reaction is also strongly suppressed.
