Extracorporeal irradiation of the blood in renal homograft rejection

ECI has proved to be a convenient and easy tool for the production of a significant lymphopenia in both dogs and humans. No untoward side effects, complications or biochemical derangements were noted following the use of ECI. A striking reduction in the number of lymphocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes was noted after daily courses of ECI. ECI has proved effective in reversing the early or acute rejection phenomenon characterised by the typical mononuclear cell infiltrate. It has little or no effect on the late rejection process which is characterised by an arterial endothelial proliferative lesion. If the present hypothesis concerning the modes of sensitisation of a host to foreign antigens is correct, ECI would seem to have a significant potential in reducing the late rejection phenomenon. Further investigation of the potential uses of ECI in the field of renal homotransplantation is warranted.