OPTN/SRTR 2021 Annual Data Report: Vascularized Composite Allograft

Area of Science:

• Transplantation immunology
• Organ transplantation
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) are complex tissue transplants.
• The OPTN/SRTR Annual Data Report first included VCA data in 2020, covering 2014-2020.
• VCA transplantation is a developing field with limited available data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze recent trends in VCA transplantation in the United States.
• To identify demographic patterns of VCA recipients.
• To report on VCA graft failures.

Main Methods:

• Review of data from the OPTN/SRTR Annual Data Report.
• Analysis of VCA recipient and graft failure data from 2014 to 2021.
• Examination of demographic trends in VCA recipients.

Main Results:

• The number of VCA recipients in the US remained small and decreased in 2021.
• VCA recipients were predominantly White, young/middle-aged males.
• Eight uterus and one non-uterus VCA graft failures were reported between 2014 and 2021.

Conclusions:

• Continued decline in VCA recipient numbers highlights challenges in the field.
• Standardization of definitions, protocols, and outcome measures is essential for VCA transplantation advancement.
• VCA transplants are likely to be centralized at specialized referral centers, similar to intestinal transplants.