Immunological responses to maxillary on-lay allogeneic bone grafts

4 patients with severely resorbed maxillae underwent rehabilitation with on-lays of allogeneic femoral head bone grafts, titanium implants (Brånemark System) and fixed prostheses. Donors and recipients were matched according to blood groups (ABO/Rh). Potential immunological responses were monitored by determining autoantibodies in peripheral blood, and inflammatory reactions in the recipient site. Biopsies from the bone graft 6 months after grafting showed vital bone. After a mean observation period of 19.5 months, 22 of 23 implants were osseointegrated. None of the investigated autoantibodies were detected in peripheral blood, and there was no local inflammatory response. Allogeneic bone grafts in combination with titanium implants can be used in reconstruction of edentulous severely resorbed maxillae without immunological reactions directed against the graft.