Organ transplantation in Italy: Analysis of donors and recipients

The Istituto Superiore di Sanita (The Italian National Institute of Health) has been collecting information regarding organ donation and transplantati on in Italy. Herein we describe organ procurement and transplant activity i n Italy in the years 1992-1997 and show some of the characteristics regardi ng both donors and transplanted patients who received kidneys, hearts, live rs and lungs. Although transplantation in Italy has been very difficult bec ause of shortage of organ donors, national rates have been improving year a fter year. The present situation should ameliorate further to enable Italy to reach the same level of other advanced European countries.