szervtranszplantációval

Szervtranszplantáció, or organ transplantation, is a surgical procedure that replaces a diseased or failing organ with a healthy one from a donor. It aims to restore organ function, prolong survival, and improve quality of life for patients with irreversible organ failure.

The field has a long history, with the first successful kidney transplant in 1954 and the first heart transplant in 1967. The advent of effective immunosuppressive therapy in the 1980s, especially calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, dramatically improved graft survival and recipient outcomes.

Organs may be obtained from deceased donors or living donors. Living donation is common for kidneys and, in some cases, liver segments, while most liver, heart, lung, and pancreas transplants come from deceased donors. Organ allocation is based on medical urgency, biological compatibility, and logistical factors to balance fairness and utility.

Recipients require lifelong immunosuppression to prevent rejection, which carries risks including infection, malignancy, metabolic disorders, and drug toxicity. Rejection can be acute or chronic and is monitored via clinical assessment, laboratory tests, imaging, and biopsy.

Worldwide disparities in organ donation create waiting lists and ethical debates over consent, allocation, and price. Research continues in areas such as organ preservation, tolerance induction, and regenerative approaches to expand supply and improve long-term outcomes.