Sentinel skin flaps in transplant
How is the skin patch inserted?
Have Sentinel skin flaps been used before?
Sentinel skin flaps (SSFs) were first used in a study involving intestinal transplants. In this study, we discovered that the skin displayed a visible rash between 1-10 days before the transplant was rejected.
The skin also guarded against rejection: The rate of organ rejection dropped from 80% to 25% in patients who had a SSF.
This has also been seen in pancreas and kidney transplant patients who received an SSF. Some patients found they did not need routine biopsies or tests for rejection, and when the skin indicated there was rejection, they could increase their medication.
