effects of methylprednisolone and azathioprine on bronchial healing following lung autotransplantation the effect of lowdose immunosuppressive therapy upon the healing of the bronchial anastomosis and skin wound following lung autotransplantation was evaluated autotransplantation was performed in two groups of dogs group 1 15 dogs received no immunosuppression and group 2 13 dogs received postoperative immunosuppression with methylprednisolone 2 mgkg and azathioprine 15 mgkg two to four skin incisions 7 cm in length were made in the dorsal region of each dog dogs were put to death at 4 9 16 and 23 days postoperatively and the bronchial anastomoses and skin wounds were evaluated by breaking strength measurements bronchus and skin breaking strength increased with time in both groups bronchus breaking strength was similar in the two groups at day 4 and day 9 however by day 23 bronchus breaking strength was significantly higher in group 1 p less than 0001 skin breaking strength was significantly higher in group 1 on days 9 and 16 p less than 0005 and on day 23 p less than 0001 our results suggest that lowdose methylprednisolone and azathioprine significantly affect the breaking strength of both bronchial anastomoses and healing skin incisions following canine lung autotransplantation