Description

Keratoplasty, also known as corneal transplantation, is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a damaged or diseased cornea with a healthy one from a donor. Graft immunology refers to the study of the immune response that occurs when a graft or transplant is placed into a recipient's body. The cornea is an immunologically privileged tissue, which means that it is not rejected by the recipient's immune system as readily as other transplanted tissues. This is due to several factors, including the lack of blood vessels in the cornea, the presence of immune suppressive factors, and the expression of molecules that prevent immune cell activation. Despite this, the success of corneal transplantation can still be affected by the recipient's immune system. Rejection can occur if the recipient's immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue as foreign and mounts an immune response against it. This can lead to inflammation, scarring, and vision loss. To reduce the risk of rejection, corneal transplant recipients are typically treated with immunosuppressive drugs, such as corticosteroids or cyclosporine. These drugs work by suppressing the immune system's response to the transplanted tissue, reducing the risk of rejection. Overall, graft immunology is an important area of research in the field of corneal transplantation, as it helps to identify new strategies for improving the success of this procedure and reducing the risk of complications.

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