Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 37 No. (1-4), 2005.
Other
The history of kidney transplantation in the world and in Croatia
Petar Orlić
Abstract
Organ transplantation is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. It started with kidney transplantation from an identical twin in Boston in the year 1954. Successful experimental kidney transplantations were performed from the beginning of the 20th century. In the early 50's pioneering attempts appeared using kidneys from related and unrelated living donors, as well as cadavers. First successful kidney transplantations from living related donor were performed in Boston and Paris in 1959 in patients prepared with total body irradiation. In the early 60's the first immunosuppressive drug 6-mercaptopurine appeared, later its less toxic derivate azathioprine. The first successful transplantation from cadaver was performed in Boston in 1962. The continuous progress has been achieved due to new strong and selective immunosuppressant, selection of donor and recipient based on histocompatibility, possibility of organ preservation and common progress of diagnostics and therapy. Actually a shortage of organs is the greatest limiting factor in the further development of kidney transplantation. In Croatia the first kidney transplantation from living related donor was performed in 1971, and from cadaver in 1972, both at the University HospitalCentre in Rijeka. The first kidney transplantation in Zagreb was performed at University HospitalCentre "Rebro" in October 1973. At the "Merkur" Hospital in Zagreb the first kidney transplantation was performed in 2005. The nomination of transplant coordinators has resulted in increase of performed kidney transplantations activities during past few years.
Keywords
Croatia; Kidney transplantation - history, world
Hrčak ID:
190870
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2005.
Visits: 3.693 *