Chapter 31: Prevention of Organ Transplant Rejection: Current Therapies and Novel Strategies

Prevention of organ transplant rejection: Current therapies and novel strategies The practice of organ transplantation has expanded substantially since the first successful kidney transplant, more than 40 years ago. According to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Statistics (SRTR), about 25,000 transplants were performed in the United States in 2002, a 38% increase since 1993 (Organ Procurement and Transplant Network [OPTN]/SRTR 2004 Annual Report). Despite improvements in the rate of acute organ rejection following transplantation, organ loss remains a problem. Figure 31.1 shows graft survival rates for commonly transplanted organs over 10 years posttransplantation. Approximately 50% of the $5 billion spent annually in the United States on organ transplants is used for posttransplantation immunosuppressive therapy and/or complications following transplantation, including rejection. In addition, the strides made in managing acute organ rejection (which occurs immediately following transplantation) have not been paralleled in chronic organ rejection (which occurs over time despite immunosuppressive Significant ...

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