THE USE OF FK506 AND SKIN ALLOGRAFTING FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE BURNS IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL

A 30 % burn injury was found highly immunosuppressive in mice by means of two in vivo measurements of cell-mediated immunity, and this immun osuppression could be prevented by early excision and grafting. FK506, a new immunosuppressive agent, was given at different doses for 12 da ys after early excision and grafting following burn and all doses prol onged the acceptance time of allografts from 14 to 20 days. Allograft rejection was not seen when animals were on the drug. Higher doses pro longed the rejection more, even after the cessation of the drug, and t hey caused some degree of immunodepression. Immunosuppressive treatmen t with FK506 when used following burn injury affected cell-mediated im munity minimally to moderately when compared to burned control groups.