1. Renal transplantation at the University of Michigan 1964 to 1999.
- Author
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Magee JC, Sung RS, Turcotte JG, Punch JD, Ojo AO, Cibrik DM, Konnak JW, Bloom DA, Wolf JS Jr, Kaplan B, Rudich SM, Bunchman TE, Leichtman AB, Merion RM, and Campbell DA Jr
- Subjects
- Actuarial Analysis, Adult, Child, Hospitals, University, Humans, Immunosuppression Therapy methods, Kidney Transplantation mortality, Kidney Transplantation physiology, Living Donors statistics & numerical data, Michigan, Retrospective Studies, Survival Rate, Tissue Donors statistics & numerical data, Treatment Outcome, Graft Survival, Kidney Transplantation statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
The Michigan Kidney Transplant Program has existed for 35 years. Outcomes have improved dramatically as the one-year survival of cadaver kidney grafts increased from 25% to 85-90%. Patient deaths in the first year are now uncommon. Indications for renal transplantation have been extended to infants, the elderly, diabetics and to patients with other significant health problems who would not have been candidates in the past. Chronic administration of large doses of corticosteroids is no longer necessary and the associated morbidity is largely avoided. Improvements in immunosuppression, especially the introduction of cyclosporine, account for much of this progress. With success has come increasing demand. Unfortunately, the gap between the number of available donor kidneys and the number of patients listed for a cadaver transplant continues to increase rather than diminish. Greater acceptance of volunteer donation, as has occurred in our own program, will help to reduce this shortage. If the past forecasts the future, we can anticipate extraordinary advances during the next 35 years.
- Published
- 1999