Drainage of the Thoracic Lymph Duct During Homologous Kidney Transplantation in Man

Abstract

Drainage of lymph from the thoracic duct as part of the immunosuppressive treatment in human, homologous kidney transplantation has been tried in 18 cases. A reduction of the concentration of lymphocytes in the lymph during the drainage could be shown. The procedure was not accompanied by a reduction of the number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. The rejection episodes were less frequent when none or very low lymph volumes and also large lymph volumes were collected.