Solid organ transplantation is during the past two decades the fi nest and most suitable treatment
with the best quality of life for patients with end stage organ failure. The fi rst documented
‘unrelated’ kidney transplantation was performed on June 17, 1950 in Chicago, United States
on a 44-year-old woman with polycystic kidney disease2. Unfortunately, the donated kidney
was rejected because no adequate immunosuppressive therapy was available at the time and
the development of eff ective anti-rejection drugs was years away. The fi rst successful kidney
transplantation was performed on December 23rd in 1954 from one healthy identical twin to
his twin brother who was almost dying of renal disease3. The operation succeeded and renal
function was restored in the recipient and resulted in enormous excitement in the media and
among medical professionals. One decade further, the fi rst human liver transplantation was
performed in 1963 by a surgical team led by dr. Thomas Starzl4.
The discovery and availability of potent immunosuppressive drugs that were able to prevent
rejection of the transplanted donor graft, was followed by an era of many successful solid organ
transplantations. The use of these immunosuppressive drugs resulted in acceptable graftsurvival
rates in the Netherlands. The graft survival rate over 2007 was 94% after clinical kidney
transplantation with living donors, 85% after clinical kidney transplantation with deceased
donors and 76% after clinical liver transplantation (Nederlandse Transplantatie Stichting).
Nevertheless, acute rejection may occur in the fi rst 3 to 6 months after transplantation, but this
can be well treated with (steroid) anti-rejection therapy.http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/19694/100608_Sewgobind%2C%20Varsha%20Devi%20Kareshma%20Devi.pdf
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