Abstrakt
The use of cryopreserved allografts for vascular reconstructions in infected area is growing. The most advantageous attribute of cryopreserved grafts stored for few months in issue banks compared to cold-stored allografts used within 24-36 hours after recovery is the ability to obtain suitable grafts whenever needed.
Moreover, the legal restriction of the use of cold-stored allografts in many European countries is represented by the Tissue Act. The use of immunosuppression in patients after transplantation of cryopreserved arterial grafts is generally not recommended because of believe that cryoconservation reduce the immunogenicity of arterial allografts.
However, this statement remains still controversial. herefore, we present in our work the review of experimental and clinical findings regarding to the influence of cryoconservation on antigenicity of arterial allografts.