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The first long-term successful transplant performed in America was a kidney transplant done by Drs. Joseph Murray and J. Hartwell Harrison in 1954 between identical twins. In 1962, Dr. Murray performed the first successful kidney transplant form a cadaveric (deceased) donor. In the late 1950's and 1960's, radiation and medicines were used to lower the immune response of the patient receiving the kidney, in order to prevent rejection.
In the 1970's and 1980's new drugs for preventing and treating rejection were developed. In 1972, legislation was passed to provide coverage by Medicare for kidney transplantation. In 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act, which funded the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). This legislation also prohibited the buying and selling of human organs for transplantation, and provided measures to assure equal access for all patients needing organs for transplantation.
Today, many successful transplants take place, using cadaveric, living related and living nonrelated donor kidneys. Pancreatic transplants are being performed in the early stages of diabetes in order to prevent progression of the disease which can lead to kidney failure. Pancreatic-kidney transplants are also being performed for diabetics with kidney failure.
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