Spleen transplantation


Spleen transplantation is the transfer of spleen or spleen fragments from one individual to another. It is under research for induction of immunological tolerance for other transplanted organs. Success has been achieved in rodent models. Recently, evidence has been obtained for a tolerogenic effect of a spleen transplant in miniature swine
. Also, the spleen harbors primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. Spleen transplantation surgery has been performed on humans with mixed results.

Autotransplantation

Splenic tissue can be deliberately autotransplanted after splenectomy, as some tissue will still be viable, to attempt to preserve some splenic function. Usually this involves leaving parts of splenic parenchyma in pouches of omentum. This is not without risk or complication. This was performed after splenosis was understood; splenosis is the reimplantation of splenic tissue elsewhere in the body after it has broken off from the spleen due to trauma or surgery.

See Also