Biomedical subjects

R Pálsson

Publications and source records attributed to R Pálsson.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

[Key issues concerning long-term management of transplant recipients.].

During the past 40 years, solid-organ transplantation has evolved into a routine clinical procedure for the management of end-stage heart, kidney, liver and lung disease as well as diabetes mellitus. This has mainly been accomplished through advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the rejection of allografts which has led to major improvements in immunosuppressive therapy. The discovery of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine which came into clinical use in the early eighties, revolutionized the field of transplantation. The short-term survival of allografts is now excellent but relentless loss of grafts over time due to chronic rejection remains a major problem. A number of complications can affect transplant recipients, most of which result from intensive immunosuppressive treatment. Among those are life-threatening infections and malignancies. The key issues concerning long-term management of transplant recipients are discussed.

English Abstract↗

PubMed2000

[Renal transplantation.].

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for most patients with end-stage renal disease. The improved success of this treatment modality over the past four decades can large part be attributed to advances in immunosuppressive therapy. However, while the demand for renal transplantation has been steadily growing due to the rising incidence of end-stage renal disease, shortage of organ donors is a major limitation. The shortage of kidneys for transplantation has been met with an increase in the use of living donors. Renal allograft survival has improved over the years, although late graft loss is still a significant problem. One and five-year survival of living donor grafts is approximately 94% and 72%, and 88% and 60% for cadaveric donor grafts, respectively. The main causes of late graft loss are death of the patient and chronic allograft nephropathy. Risk factors for chronic allograft nephropathy are complex and include both immunlogic and non-immunologic mechanisms. Finally, the results of renal transplantation in Icelandic recipients are discussed.

English Abstract↗