The antigenicity of fascia lata allografts.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether commercially available fascia lata allograft material contains donor antigens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I and II were assessed in: (i) freeze-dried fascia lata allografts; (ii) a Tutoplast fascia lata graft (Mentor Urology, Santa Barbara, CA, USA); (iii) an acellular dermal graft; and (iv) a successful donor fascia sacrocolpopexy graft one year after implantation, using a polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer-based assay.

RESULTS

The donor for both the freeze-dried fascia lata and Tutoplast fascia lata was fully HLA-typed. At one year after implantation, antigens from the implanted sacrocolpopexy graft matched the host blood antigens. The antigenicity of the acellular dermal graft could not be ascertained because this material interfered with the assay.

CONCLUSION

Donor fascia lata grafts prepared by freeze-drying or by the Tutoplast technique retain donor antigens. The significance of this antigenicity is unknown. All donor antigens are replaced by host antigens after implantation.