Immunosuppression after uterus transplantation.

Abstract

Clinical uterus transplantation (UTx) is growing rapidly. The procedure represents the only therapy for women with absolute uterine factor infertility to give birth to a biological baby. Immunosuppression after UTx needs to carefully balance effects with the healthy mother and baby. Unique for UTx is the 'temporary' character of the procedure with a transplant hysterectomy being performed after delivery. Most of the practice on immunosuppression in UTx is currently based on the experience in solid organ transplantation (SOT). Clinical UTx-trials have been performed in centers worldwide during the recent years and experience on immunosuppression has accumulated. Immunosuppression in UTx has been successfully applied as maintenance treatment in addition to effectively treating acute T- and B-cell mediated rejections. Understanding the biology of UTx in more detail is expected to refine future approaches.