Composite tissue transplantation: More science and patience needed

Composite tissue transplantation offers promising solution for many reconstructive problems,including but not limited to extremity amputation. Although the current hand transplant recipients have demonstrated survival of allografs on high-dose immunosuppression,the risk benefit balance remains precarious for transplants aimed toward improving the quality of the recipient's life. Succesful adaption of tolerance induction modalities would reduce or eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppression.We thus advocate further scientific studies before the broad application of composite tissue transplants.