Developments in clinical islet, liver thoracic, kidney and pancreas transplantation in the last 5 years

Am J Transplant. 2006 Aug;6(8):1759-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2006.01402.x. Epub 2006 Jun 9.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology
  • Kidney Transplantation / methods*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Pancreas Transplantation / methods*
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors