Feb. 4, 2009: Valarie Kepner washes her husband, Jeff Kepner's legs following a shower. (AP)
PITTSBURGH – America's first double hand transplant recipient has symptoms of rejection and is back in a Pittsburgh hospital, yet his wife and doctor say he's doing fine.
Jeff Kepner received the hands at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in May and went home in October. He's since developed a rash on both hands, which his doctor says was to be expected.
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Dr. W.P. Andrew Lee said Thursday the 58-year-old Kepner has been responding to treatment since arriving two days earlier.
Valarie Kepner says her husband is doing fine.
UPMC's transplant program aims to reduce the amount of toxic anti-rejection medications that patients need. Kepner is on one anti-rejection drug.
Kepner lost his hands and feet a decade ago to a bacterial infection.
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