immune disorders
Transplantation of Other Tissues
Other tissues
In Parkinsonism , transplanting tissue from a person’s adrenal glands to that person’s brain appears to relieve symptoms, as does transplanting brain tissue from aborted fetuses. However, use of tissue from aborted fetuses is controversial. Transplantation of thymus glands from stillborn infants into children who are born without a thymus gland (a disorder called DiGeorge Syndrome ) may help restore the immune system in these children. When the thymus gland is missing, the immune system is impaired because white blood cells, which are a vital part of the immune system’s defense against foreign substances, mature in the thymus gland. However, the new thymus may produce cells that attack the recipient’s cells, causing severe Transplantation of the uterus can sometimes be done in women who want to become pregnant but have an abnormal uterus or have previously had their uterus removed. Reattaching a body part is not actually transplantation. If fingers, hands, and arms are relatively undamaged after being severed from the body, they can sometimes be reattached successfully. Reattachment of legs is less successful. The severed part is kept clean and dry and is put in a plastic bag and placed on ice until it can be used. Prompt reattachment is crucial so that the blood supply to the severed part can be restored. 