XENOTRANSPLANTATION - AN UPDATE

Over the past 20 years, the mortality and morbidity associated with ca rdiac allotransplantation has fallen significantly, providing a viable treatment for patients with terminal cardiac failure. Unfortunately, the increase in the number of patients who could benefit from cardiac transplantation has not been matched with an increase in the number of organs available for transplantation. Thus, many patients with cardia c failure die waiting for a suitable organ, unlike patients with renal failure, who can be maintained on dialysis while waiting for a kidney . Although the development of artificial hearts may provide a life-sus taining bridging therapy until a donor organ becomes available, the qu ality of life associated with cardiac prostheses is currently less tha n that following successful cardiac allotransplantation. (Trends Cardi ovasc Med 1998;8:319-325) (C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc.