research
Exploring pharmacodynamics of immunosuppresive agents in transplantation
- Publication date
- 1 March 2013
- Publisher
- Supported by advancements in technology, surgical techniques and
immunosuppressive drugs, solid organ transplantation has become the
preferred solution to end stage organ failure. The first solid organ
transplantation was performed in 1954 under supervision of Joseph Murray in
the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. A kidney from a healthy donor was
transplanted into his identical twin, who suffered from chronic glomerulonephritis. The transplanted organ functioned immediately and the recipient
survived for 25 years while the donor lived for another 56 years. Since the twins
were genetically identical, no suppression of the immune system was needed.
Transplantation between individuals other than identical twins was
made possible a decade later by the use of the combination of azathioprine and
corticosteroids, achieving a 1 year allograft1 survival rate of 40 to 50 percent.