Homologous Human Kidney Transplantation

EXCELLENT results with renal transplantation between identical twins by Murray, Merrill and Harrison (1958) proved that a transplanted kidney can maintain permanent normal function. In 1959 successful transplantations between nonidentical twins by Merrill and by Hamburger and their respective teams with good, long-term results opened a new era in the field of human kidney transplantation and we know of more than 30 such operations since 1959. This paper will not cover the basic problem of the homograft reaction but deal with data from six kidney transplantations performed at the Centre Midico-Chirurgical Foch at Suresnes. None were twins and four were done between nonrelated persons. In five cases total body irradiation was used to prevent rejection. It was given at the Gustave Roussy Institute at Villejuif (Seine) under the supervision of Drs. Tubiana and Lalanne. The treatment of such patients requires the help of a skilled medical and nursing staff. We are most grateful to all who helped us. Some results have already been published (Kuss, 1960 and 196I). A summary of all cases is presented in the following table.