History of renal transplantation

Abstract

The history of kidney transplantation is a history of modern medicine. While the early work was conducted in Europe, the postwar efforts were on both sides of the Atlantic. From the earliest days, it was recognized that transplantation involved more than mere surgery, challenging though as it was. Transplantation necessitated an understanding of the differences between species and between humans. Its history has paralleled and incorporated that of immunology, nephrology, and pharmacology. It spawned the field of histocompatibility. It was a prime generator of bioethics. Transplantation has a multidisciplinary history and is a multidisciplinary endeavor.