There could not have been a more appropriate time as now for a special issue of the Annals dedicated to transplantation. The topic is in the lay press everyday for both the right and the wrong reasons. This special issue covers not only the science and art of transplantation...

Kidney transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage kidney failure. In comparison to dialysis, it offers the greatest potential for longevity and a superior quality of life. The first kidney transplant was performed in Singapore on 8 July 1970.1 Over the next 6 years, only 17 deceased donor (DD)...

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)1 as it results not only in better survival rates but also better quality of life compared to dialysis. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on "Download PDF" to view the full article.

The introduction of cyclosporine as an immuno-suppressant in the early 1980s revolutionised the results of organ transplantation and made heart transplantation an accepted therapeutic modality for end-stage heart failure. The 2008 Registry Report of The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) received 80,106 reports of heart transplants...

Presently, liver transplantation has become routine management for an expanding group of patients with endstage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, organ availability limits the application of liver transplantation. As a result, there is a large increase in the liver transplant waiting list in the US and a significant...