The history of transplantation in the world and in Poland

__________________________________________________________________________________________ Transplantation is the most spectacular success of medicine in the XX century. Transplantation became the effective and standard method of treatment of end-stage organ failure. It enable not only improvement of the quality of life, but prolong survival as well. How it was a long history dating back into the ancient times. Development of clinical transplantation was possible owing to the enormous progress in surgical techniques, invention of vascular anastomoses, knowledge of immunological mechanisms underlying tolerance and rejection processes, development of immunosuppressive therapy and multidisciplinary cooperation. We learnt about the new techniques of assessment of HLA matching, preservation of retrieved organs, new immunosuppressive regimens, more efficient antirejection therapy and prophylaxis of complications, mainly infections. The future should bring the further development of clinical transplantation, however we should be aware of new challenges as xenotransplantation, stem cells or tissue cultures or even development of artificial organs cultured in the laboratories using human cells and tissues.