Preemptive transplantation as such could dramatically expand the demand for organ replacement and just as dramatically change the concept of what would constitute adequate replacement – normal function and limited or no immunosuppression would be even more prized than they are today.Ī growing need for transplantation would make the question of which new technologies could be applied to addressing that need even more compelling. Such an approach is already taken in those rare circumstances in which a young infant has dysmorphology suggesting a high risk of Wilm's tumor. This event will tempt the clinician and patient to replace the potentially “lethal” organs with a transplant. A sample of blood might reveal the existence of cancer of the kidney or lung before a lesion is localized. Advances in molecular diagnostics, proteomics and other fields may allow the detection of lethal diseases long before clinical manifestations occur. The circumstances in which organ replacement is sought may also soon change. This will increase the prevalence of organ failure and the potential demand for transplantation. However, increased longevity brought about by improvements in medical care, nutrition and public health will subject a greater fraction of the population to diseases of aging, such as diabetes and failure of the heart or kidneys. For example, better diet and treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-coA)-reductase inhibitors may prevent atherosclerosis and cardiac failure in some, perhaps in many. New treatments for disease, better nutrition and better approaches to public health will decrease the prevalence of some of the diseases that cause organ failure and hence the need for transplantation. The need for organ replacement may change profoundly during the next period of years 1 - 4.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |