[Xenotransplantation: what is its future?].
The ultimate solution to the growing shortage of organs for transplantation could be the use of animal organs or tissues. Xenotransplantation of organs of all kinds, size and number would be available to be transplanted to patients with endstage diseases. Advances in technology, as well as the accelerating rate of progress in biochemical, biological and genetic fields, means that it will be possible to bridge times until allografts are available or that successful engraftment becomes possible. Open questions in immunology or metabolism as well as the transfer of infectious material from animal to man need, however, major efforts to be solved. An optimistic outlook can be given, that the problems of xenotransplantation are solved in the next decade, or certainly in the next generation.
Hammer
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Institut für Chirurgische Forschung, Klinikum Grosshadern, München.
D000818:Animals; D005544:Forecasting; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000639:trends; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000639:trends*