Human organ transplantation

In terms of rehabilitation and extended years of survival, transplantation is a good treatment if vital organs are affected by end-stage disease. Rejection is one of the most serious complications, although advances in molecular biology may well lead to specific immunosuppression with few or no side-effects. The unique metabolic functions of the heart, liver and kidney make it doubtful whether artificial replacements will become available in the foreseeable future. In the present state of knowledge, metabolic feedback between artificial organs probably cannot be accomplished, and organ transplantation is therefore likely to remain an evolving technology for many years to come.