D. Alexianu *, R. Matei **
* Dr. D. Alexianu, medic primar Spitalul Clinic de Urgență
** Dr. R. Matei, medic stagiar
Abstract
The critical shortage of donor organs has led scientists to investigate the use of animal organ for transplantation into humans. The greatest practical obstacles are: the process of rejection (hyperacute rejection in particular but also delayed xenograft rejection and acute vascular rejection), the likelihood of animal diseases being transmitted to man and the ethical problem. There are two main strategies being investigated to overcome xenograft rejection: obtaining transgenic animals and inducting toleranceby manipulation of immune system of recipient. A major step was obtaining transgenic pigs (bred to express humans regulators of complement) and by this resolving the hyperacute rejection problem. Concerns about animal diseases being transmitted to man conducted to protocols which will allow pigs to be bred free of known pig pathogens. The potential transmission of retroviruses continue to be researched.