Current Status of Hepatic Transplantation

Since the first human orthotopic liver transplantation on March 1, 1963, 283 patients with various liver diseases had received liver homografts at the University of Colorado and the University of Pittsburgh by February 28, 1983. During this 20-year period many scientific observations and surgical technical improvements were reported from the experience in liver transplantation.18 However, significant improvement of survival after liver transplantation had to await the discovery and clinical use of cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressive agent derived from the fungi Cyclidrocarpon lucidum and Trichoderma polysporum.1,2,5,7,21,26 We report here the current status of hepatic transplantation, mainly focusing on the 100 consecutive liver recipients who were treated with cyclosporine and low-dose prednisone since March, 1980.