Abstract 25

EVIDENCE OF CIRCULATING DONOR MATERIALS IN RECIPIENTS OF BONE ALLOGRAFT

T.Partsalis, M. Hurworth, Chan LYS, Pavlos N, Kumta N, Willers C, Wood D, Xu J, Kumta S, Lo YMD, Zheng MH.

Department of Orthopaedics, School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia

Our aim was to investigate the possible transfer of cellular material with the use of bone allograft, by detecting the presence of donor DNA in recipient plasma. Fifty one female patients who received bone allograft from male donors were included in the study. Forty patients who received allograft from the Perth Bone and Tissue Bank were identified, with a blood sample analysed between 6 weeks and 18 months of surgery. In addition, 11 patients were recruited from the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR. These patients had blood samples analysed both preoperatively and at 1 day, 1, 2, and 3 months postoperatively. The blood samples were analysed via Polymerase Chain Reaction, (PCR), for the presence of the SRY gene on the Y Chromosome. Of the total 51 female patients receiving bone allograft from a male donor, 6 tested positive for the SRY sequence. Of the 6 positive patients, 5 were positive at day 1 postoperatively and negative thereafter, with the remaining patient positive at 3 months postoperatively. All patients received cancellous bone allograft. No preoperative specimens were positive. Our results document, for the first time, the presence of donor DNA in recipient circulation after bone allograft use. This occurs despite thorough preparation of the bone allograft designed to render the graft free of antigenic material. The significance of this finding is unclear. The positive findings at day 1 may be a consequence of operative handling of the graft, while the positive result at 3 months may reflect bone allograft physiology, possibly incorporation.

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