BOB FROM HOUSTON
Hand transplant shows no sign of rejection
LYON, FRANCE, Oct 16 (Reuters) -- The 48-year-old New Zealand man who
had a right
hand transplant at the Edouard Herriot Hospital here on September 23rd
shows no signs of
rejecting the hand, according to the surgical team who performed the
landmark procedure.
The team, led by Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard spoke Thursday at a
press conference held
at the hospital, at which the patient also answered questions. His hand
was amputated in 1989,
after multiple surgical procedures to save it following an accident in
1984.
Describing the transplant, the patient said, "My hand is very fine." He
said that he is feeling
sensations "like acupuncture needles" along the suture line, but took
this as a sign that the hand is
alive.
Dubernard told reporters that the man is in good physical condition, and
that three skin biopsies
have shown no sign of rejection. A fourth biopsy is planned on the 30th
post-operative day.
The surgeon described the immunosuppressant therapy the patient is
taking to try to prevent his
body from rejecting the transplanted hand. These drugs include
corticosteroids, mycophenolate
mofetil, and tacrolimus.
"In regards to the hand, there is no sign of infection and no apparent
edema," said Dubernard,
who also noted that the patient has begun physical therapy to learn to
use the hand.
Dr. Gabriel Burloux, a psychiatrist who is monitoring the transplant
recipient, said that the patient
is not having any specific psychological problems at the moment. "His
psyche has accepted this
foreign object," Burloux said.
The patient was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital on Friday.
After more
physiotherapy and follow-up, he is due to return home to Australia in
December.