Present and future in organ transplantation

: Artificial organs and organ transplantation are the only way to replace the deteriorated function of damaged organs. However, complete replacement of the original functions of organs is not yet possible for artificial organs today, and organ transplantation faces severe scarcity of donor organs. Newly developed immunosuppressant, cyclosporin-A, has contributed to marked improvement in the results of organ transplantation, and organ transplantation is not any more in the stage of experimental therapeutic methods but becomes a choice of routine therapeutic modality for organ failure. The main reason for retarded development of organ transplantation in this country is that organ donation from heart-beating cadavers is not yet allowed. However, it is reported that 50 to 60% of Japanese people are ready to accept brain death and organ donation from heart-beating cadavers. According to the above described social circumstances, this symposium was organized to overview and discuss the present status and problems in organ, cell transplantation and embryo transfer. I hope that the fruitful results of this symposium will contribute to rapid social and institutional preparations for organ transplantation and to many patients.