Transplantation
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Recipients of vascularized composite allografts require aggressive and lifelong immunosuppression, and because the surgery is usually performed in nonlife-threatening situations, the development of strategies to minimize immunosuppression is especially pertinent for this procedure. We investigated how complement affects acute graft injury, alloimmunity, and immunosuppressive therapy. ⋯ Complement-mediated IRI augments graft allogenicity, and appropriate complement inhibition ameliorates IRI, decreases alloimmune priming and allows more immune-sparing CsA dosing.