XENOTRANSPLANTATION - WHERE WILL IT END

The ultimate solution to the growing shortage of organs for transplant ation could be the use of animal organs or tissues. Xenotransplantatio n of organs of all kinds, size and number would be available to be tra nsplanted to patients with endstage diseases. Advances in technology, as well as 'the accelerating rate of progress in biochemical, biologic al and genetic fields, means that it will be possible to bridge times until allografts are available or that successful engraftment becomes possible. Open questions in immunology or metabolism as well as the tr ansfer of infectious material fr om animal to man need, however, major efforts to be solved. An optimistic outlook can be given, that the pr oblems of xenotransplantation are solved in the next decade, or certai nly in the next generation.