Transplantation proceedings
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Because it is well known that kidney transplant recipients with preformed lymphocytotoxic antibodies against HLA antigens have increased graft rejection rates, a serological crossmatch is routinely performed before kidney transplantation. But, the presence of these antibodies is not routinely monitored after transplantation. We investigated the panel-reactive antibody (PRA) response to know whether variations before or after kidney transplantation were associated with graft rejection. ⋯ Our study suggests that the PRA response pretransplantation and in the early posttransplantation period correlates with the kidney allograft rejection rate.
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Organ transplantation started with organs donated by living subjects. Increasing demands brought cadaveric organ donation. The brain-death law, mandatory for this procedure, is prevalent in all countries involved in organ transplantation except Pakistan. ⋯ Public awareness and education play an important role. Appreciation and supporting the donors is necessary and justified. It is a noble act and should be recognized by offering job security, health insurance, and free education for the donor's children.
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Most donors in Japan have been non-heart-beating donors (NHBD), so-called "marginal donors." In Western countries kidney transplants from NHBD have also been increasing. We analyzed 120 kidneys harvested from NHBD with regard to organ procurement, renal function, graft survival, and the donor factors that affected graft survival. ⋯ Organ procurement without cannulation prior to cardiac arrest entailed a long WIT and a high DGF rate. However, the graft survival was good. It has been necessary to use grafts from NHBD despite the inherent risk factors. It is important to reduce kidney damage both at the organ procurement and during the posttransplant management.
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In the year 2001, cadaveric kidney and liver transplant rates (CadTx) in countries with well-established transplant programs such as the United States and Spain ranged from 51 to 61.9 and 18.7 to 31.3 per million population (pmp), respectively. However, overall kidney and liver transplant rates in Asia are significantly lower at 4.3 and 0.3 pmp, respectively. Improving CadTx rates to meet the needs of organ failure patients poses several unique challenges in Asia. ⋯ Broadening donor criteria as with the use of expanded criteria donors, including non-heart-beating and older donors, may further improve cadaveric donation rates by as much as 20%. Finally, ethical transplant practices that prohibit trade in organs will promote an environment conducive to cadaveric donation. Together with efforts to increase living donor TX transplant rates, it is hoped that these measures will increase the supply of organs so as to meet the needs of organ failure patients in Asia.
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As the great majority of the population in Saudi Arabia is Muslim, the Islamic views about organ donation and transplantation have been the focus of interest to the transplant community in this and other Muslim countries. The first resolution of the Islamic council in Saudi Arabia (Senior Ulama Commission) about organ donation and transplantation was issued in 1982. It permitted tissue and organ transplantation from both living and cadaveric donors. ⋯ In addition, there have been many tissue donations of bone marrow, heart valves (264 hearts), skin, and bone. Despite the success of the Saudi program, there have been public and medical obstacles that have obviated the full benefit of cadaver donors. We suggest increasing the awareness of the medical community and the public at large to the importance of organ donation and transplantation.