[Access to transplantation organs in Iceland.]

After the first kidney transplantation into an Icelandic patient in 1970 and until 1993 Iceland was dependent upon the Nordic institution Scandiatransplant for transplantation of cadaveric kidneys. During that period 40 cadaveric kidneys were transplanted into Icelandic patients at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. The first liver was transplanted into an Icelander in London in 1985 and two in addition until 1993. The first heart was also transplanted into an Icelandic patient in London in 1988 and additional two until 1993. In 1991 the Icelandic parliament passed laws on the definition of death and procurement of organs for transplantation. This made it possible to provide organs to the Scandiatransplant collaboration. In 1993 a contract was made with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg in which Sahlgrenska was committed to transplant necroorgans into Icelandic patients as well as to procurement of organs when available in Iceland. This cooperation lasted until the end of 1996 when a similar agreement was made with Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. From 1993-1999 altogether 28 necroorgan transplantations were performed on Icelanders (three hearts, three hearts and lungs, three lungs, seven livers and 12 kidneys). During the same period organs were procured 24 times. Transplantation of kidneys from living Icelandic donors has increased dramatically constituting 69% of all kidney transplantations 1990-1999. Living donor transplantations into Icelanders were altogether 56 at the end of 1999.