use of F(ab')2 fragment in experimental skin transplantation for burns.

In a series of experiments involving approximately 500 animals, burned rats were administered the F(ab')2 fragment of antidonor IgG to study the survival of incompatible skin allografts. No prolongation was noted when treatment consisted of antidonor F(ab')2 fragment alone. This was true whether the fragment was raised against donor spleen cells of donor skin, whether the skin allograft was partial or full thickness and whether the systemic treatment of the recipients was preceded by a period of incubation of the graft in F(ab')2 fragment or not. Significant prolongation of survival was noted when the fragment was raised against both donor and recipient histocompatibility antigen and when the donor skin was incubated in steroids as well as in F(ab')2 fragment prior to grafting. Additional findings included the confirmation of prolonged allograft survival by increasing burn size and the prolongation of allograft survival by the presence of intact eschar.