Articles tagged with Organ Donation
Advances in pediatric heart care have increased survival rates, but a shortage of donor hearts means many children still die waiting. Experts urge a shift from 'perfect' donor hearts to carefully selected organs and technological innovations to expand the donor pool.
Experts at ISHLT's annual meeting explored how countries allocate heart transplants, with a focus on balancing competing priorities like saving the sickest patients and ensuring fairness. The discussion highlighted key differences in global allocation schemes, including France's data-driven model, which aims to prioritize patients base...
A new global allocation system is being proposed to address inequities in organ allocation for heart transplants. The proposal aims to reduce disparities and ensure no viable donor heart goes unused globally.
A Canadian nephrologist shared common-sense, patient-centered solutions to address inequities in organ transplantation. His team co-developed practical approaches, including culturally safe spaces, navigation support, and storytelling through videos featuring Indigenous patients.
Recent AI tools offer surgeons assistance in complex decision-making by analyzing donor hearts and providing a data-driven approach. This could lead to increased efficiency in the donor process, reducing the likelihood of hearts going unused due to time constraints.
Experts weigh the pros and cons of an upper age limit for lung transplants, citing concerns over organ shortage and quality of life. Some argue that setting a hard age limit ignores biological variability and comorbidities, while others suggest increasing donor supply and utilization could solve the issue.
A first-in-human trial shows that an infusion of immune cells derived from a donor's blood can prime the recipient's immune system to accept a donor liver, potentially reducing lifelong immunosuppression. Eight out of 13 participants achieved complete withdrawal of immunosuppression and remained off for more than three years.
A QUT study found wide variation in GP involvement in voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Queensland, highlighting the need for improved remuneration, streamlined processes, and broader education. GPs reported confusion about who was eligible and how to discuss VAD with patients.
A cohort study found that 180-minute drives from a donor care unit are common, highlighting the need to improve system efficiency and donation outcomes by opening additional DCUs in acute care hospitals and expanding donor transport across existing boundaries
Contemporary donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors are now at 44% of organ procurement organizations. DCD donations account for half of all deceased donors in the US, leading to increased reliance on these organs to maintain transplant access.
Donation after circulatory death has become routine in the US, with organs from these donors used for multiple transplants. The number of circulatory-death donors increased significantly over 25 years, making them a major source of kidneys and livers.
Gracie Greenlaw, an 11-year-old patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, undergoes the world's first pediatric heart and liver dual organ transplant at Children's Hospital Colorado. The groundbreaking procedure, performed by Dr. Megan Adams' team, aims to improve her quality of life by addressing long-term complications from her h...
Despite challenges such as donor shortages and socioeconomic disparities, adult heart transplantation has achieved remarkable success in the US and Western Europe. The two regions have embraced different approaches to transplantation systems, shaped by cultural and political attitudes.
A new study found that opt-out organ donation policies reduce living donors by 29% but don't increase the total supply of organs. The transition to an opt-out system alters people's perception of organ availability, leading them to believe it solves the shortage, resulting in fewer altruistic donations.
A new study in the Journal of Hepatology shows liver transplantation from MAiD donors yields similar survival rates as standard donation after circulatory death. This practice can significantly expand the donor pool, leading to more organs available for transplant and potentially saving thousands of lives.
UCLA researchers have identified two key proteins, HuR and CEACAM1, that act as protective switches to prevent damage in damaged livers. By boosting this protection, organs deemed unsuitable for transplantation could be made suitable for use.
Researchers from Texas A&M University have developed a novel approach to cryopreservation that may prevent organ cracking in larger organs. The breakthrough involves adjusting the makeup of vitrification solutions to achieve higher glass transition temperatures, reducing thermal stress cracking.
Researchers used AI models with integrated clinical and claims data to predict chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The study found that the models outperformed single data source models and reduced racial bias. The findings can inform likelihood and management of CKD, supporting targeted interven...
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a novel tool to help stratify rejection risk in kidney transplantation. They found that mismatching SIRP-alpha between donors and recipients contributes to worse rejection, scarring, and graft failure in humans, suggesting improved transplant outcomes.
Forensic pathologists play a crucial role in monitoring public health threats, advancing disease research, and providing support to families who have lost loved ones. They operate independently of law enforcement and courts, performing final diagnostic evaluations and providing objective facts for the justice system.
A new study reveals persistent inequalities in children's access to life-saving kidney transplants across the UK. Early disparities in ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender persist even after being placed on the waitlist.
A major international study found that deceased-donor kidney transplantation offers a consistent survival advantage with standard-criteria kidneys, but the benefit plateaus in older and high-risk recipients. The study used a robust target trial emulation framework to compare long-term survival between transplant patients and those on d...
New molecular testing methods are transforming post-transplant care by detecting potential heart injury or rejection earlier than traditional biopsies. This enables physicians to reduce immunosuppressive medicine dosage in low-risk patients, potentially improving patient outcomes beyond the first year post-heart transplant.
The CHLA team has demonstrated the possibility of using genetically engineered pig hearts as a 'bridge' to heart transplant for critically ill babies. Eight baboons have survived with a pig heart, with one living for nearly 21 months.
A study on donor lungs preserved outside the body demonstrated that HOPE is a safe and effective method for lung preservation, with no rejections and similar short-term outcomes compared to direct transplantation. The study found that extending perfusion times can optimize donor lungs for future therapies.
Machine perfusion technology significantly extends the time donor hearts can be transported, enabling longer-distance transplants. This innovation has already led to more organs being accepted from regions previously unsuitable due to transportation constraints.
The Pediatric Heart Transplant Alliance is a coalition of six leading organizations working to advance pediatric heart transplantation through research, education, and advocacy. The alliance aims to improve patient outcomes and quality of life for children with transplanted hearts.
Researchers at ISHLT marked the 10-year anniversary of modern DCD heart donation, significantly increasing transplant volumes worldwide. Comparable outcomes have been achieved with DCD hearts compared to traditional DBD hearts, leading to a surge in DCD programs globally.
The study finds that the current transplant system is a net positive for patients, producing an additional 9.29 life-years from transplantation. However, the optimal structure of the matching system could potentially raise this figure to as high as 14.08 life-years.
An international team of scientists has molecularly decoded blood stem cell differentiation pathways using state-of-the-art sequencing methods. They identified a crucial surface protein, PD-L2, which suppresses the immune response by preventing T cell activation and release of inflammatory substances.
A novel bone marrow transplant process has been shown to be safe and curative for adults with sickle cell disease, offering a viable alternative to recent gene therapy products. The treatment, which uses a 'half-matched' donor, results in high cure rates and low side effects, making it a more accessible option for patients.
The study establishes a consensus nomenclature and characterization framework to advance mitochondria transfer and transplantation biology. It defines types of mitochondrial transfers and reviews methods to define and enforce these processes.
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine analyzed the second patient to receive a genetically-modified pig organ, identifying key factors contributing to rejection and highlighting areas for improvement. The study provides valuable insights into how to prevent graft failure in future transplants.
Researchers aim to advance eye transplantation through cutting-edge technologies and techniques, including cell-based therapies and device development. The six-year project, led by Kia Washington at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, seeks to overcome current limitations in whole-eye transplant success rates.
MELD 3.0 builds upon previous variants by incorporating serum albumin and gender to correct disparities in organ allocation, particularly for women. It demonstrates improved prognostication for various chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and acute-on-chronic liver failure.
The Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model aims to improve access to life-saving kidney transplants for patients with end-stage kidney disease while maintaining or improving the quality of care. The new rule will test performance-based upside or downside risk payments among selected kidney transplant hospitals.
The updated Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) 3.0 has reduced liver transplant disparities for women, increasing their chances of being added to the waitlist, receiving a transplant, and staying on it. Women now have equalized rates with men in terms of waitlist mortality and transplant rates after the policy change.
New research suggests that adopting the UK's three-hour organ donation rule could significantly increase kidney transplants globally. This change could lead to an additional 1,000 kidney transplants in the US per year and improve patient outcomes.
A longitudinal study found no significant difference in deceased donor rates between opt-in and opt-out countries, but fewer living donors in opt-out countries. The results suggest that switching to an opt-out system does not automatically lead to more organ donations without accompanying measures.
The Ochsner Transplant Institute collaborated with 25 US centers to conduct the first HIV-to-HIV kidney transplant study, showing comparable results between patients with and without HIV. The study's findings support the safe and effective use of HIV-positive donor organs in transplants.
A recent study by Children's Hospital Los Angeles showed that reprioritizing organ allocation led to better outcomes for children with PALF. The changes resulted in substantially decreased deaths on the pediatric waitlist, increased rates of liver transplant, and improved post-transplant outcomes.
A retrospective analysis of over 2,600 patients found that Black children were more likely to suffer severe graft-versus-host disease but overall survival rates improved across all racial groups. The study suggests that cord blood transplants are a vital lifeline for many patients and improve care for those without a matched donor.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that hearts stored in a 'heart-in-a-box' method experienced lower rates of heart failure and severe organ failure after transplantation. This breakthrough method uses hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion to keep the heart oxygenated and functioning better.
A new study suggests that an anti-inflammatory antibody treatment can be used to prevent heart transplant rejection. The treatment was found to block an innate immune response that drives dangerous inflammation in transplanted hearts, leading to prolonged organ survival.
Researchers analyzed 51,000 transplants and found rejection and graft failure rates were similar for toxoplasma-positive and negative donor kidneys. The study suggests it is safe to transplant toxoplasma-positive kidneys with additional monitoring, potentially increasing the supply of donor kidneys.
A Stanford Medicine-led study found that the US method for ranking children on the waitlist for heart transplants does not consistently rank patients based on their medical need. The current system prioritizes geographic location, immune compatibility, and body size over medical urgency.
Mayo Clinic's surgical team successfully performed the rare procedure, which included multiple organs, on a Massachusetts man with a rare form of laryngeal cancer. The landmark surgery, conducted as part of a clinical trial, marks a significant step towards making larynx transplantation available to a wider population.
A large international study of 1,042 living kidney donors found no significant differences in health indicators compared to non-donors seven years after donation. The study also provides insights into recovery time from living kidney donation, suggesting a longer recovery period than previously thought.
Researchers investigate organ donation practices after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), finding delayed organ procurement intervals and lower lung graft survival rates in ECPR groups. The study suggests using ECPR may address the organ shortage crisis by increasing viable organs for transplantation.
A new study published in JAMA suggests that kidneys from deceased donors on dialysis can be safely transplanted into recipients, reducing the pool of available donors. The study found no significant difference in transplant failure or death rates between recipients of kidneys from donors with and without dialysis.
Researchers at University of Michigan Health have developed a normothermic perfusion system that can extend the life of organs waiting for transplant by up to 24 hours. This breakthrough allows for prolonged preservation without damage or edema, increasing the number of hearts considered for transplants.
Researchers have successfully grown functional human liver cells in a different species, offering a potential solution to the shortage of donor organs for liver transplants. The breakthrough uses interspecies blastocyst complementation to produce transplantable human liver cells, which can effectively mitigate chronic liver fibrosis.
A systematic review of 35 years of medical literature finds that poverty is the primary reason people sell their kidneys, while lack of information, debt, and altruism also contribute. Regional variation exists, with poverty being the main driver in the Indian Subcontinent and brokers playing a significant role in other countries.
A recent study published in JAMA found that Black patients are less likely to receive a heart transplant than white patients, with odds of acceptance being higher for white candidates. The study also revealed that the intersection of race and gender often worsens access for Black women.
Scientists have discovered six proteins that can accurately diagnose tuberculosis (TB). The breakthrough study paves the way for a simple blood test to detect the bacteria, which could prevent millions of cases annually. TB is the world's deadliest infectious disease, killing over one million people each year.
Research highlights new findings on social vulnerability and survivorship after colorectal cancer resection, as well as disparities in kidney recovery among Black donors. Additionally, studies reveal cost savings from implementing quality interventions and explore eligibility for transplants in obese patients with end-stage renal disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have reported promising results from a clinical trial testing a novel immunotherapy combination to target advanced, potentially lethal skin cancers in kidney transplant patients. Two out of six patients experienced complete tumor regression after adding a second checkpoint inhibitor to the regimen.
A new US-Candidate Risk Score (US-CRS) predicts mortality in adult heart transplant candidates, improving upon the current system. The model combines clinical and laboratory measurements, including molecular markers associated with liver and kidney failure.
A team of researchers from Texas Heart Institute and Baylor College of Medicine have made a significant discovery about the underlying molecular cell states within transplanted pediatric hearts. They found that donor-derived tissue-resident macrophages are crucial for graft acceptance, but their loss leads to allograft failure.
A new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that organ donations after medical assistance in dying (MAiD) represented 14% of all deceased organ donations in Quebec in 2022. The majority of donors had neurodegenerative diseases, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis being the most common condition.