Abstract
Although organ transplantation has matured into a proven therapy for end-stage organ failure, the many notable developments of the past 5 years speak to the multitude of remaining challenges. Two new procedures, islet transplantation and adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation, have emerged to enlarge our therapeutic armamentarium for Type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage liver disease, respectively. In cardiac transplantation, the acceptance of ventricular assist devices as destination therapy is a notable event in light of critical shortage of deceased donor organs. Both liver and lung allocation policies have made a dramatic paradigm shift away from waiting time toward the survival benefit of transplantation. Finally, primary threats to post-transplant longevity have gained an increasing share of the spotlight. Recognition of the impact of renal insufficiency for all nonrenal transplant recipients, of recurrent hepatitis C virus for liver recipients, and of accelerated vasculopathy for cardiac have identified novel end points for clinical trials.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1759-1767 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | American Journal of Transplantation |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Allocation policy
- MELD
- Minimization protocols
- Recurrent hepatitis C
- Sirolimus
- Steroid avoidance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Transplantation
- Pharmacology (medical)