CHRONIC GRAFT-REJECTION

Although chronic rejection remains the most crucial cause of organ graft loss over the long term, its etiology is not well defined. Early injury to graft endothelial cells caused by alloantigen-independent factors, such as ischemia or reperfusion, as well as alloantigen-dependent events, such as acute rejection, have been implicated. Macrophages and their products, peptide growth factors and adhesion molecules are all thought to play an important role in this process via the cytokine-adhesion molecule cascade. Although new immunosuppressive agents, including RS61443 or rapamycin, may be effective in preventing antigen-driven components of this condition, risk factors for initial non-immune injury must also be considered and, if possible, countered.