50 Years Ago: Kidney Transplantation

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Scientific American Magazine -  September 25, 2009

50 Years Ago: Kidney Transplantation
Innovation and discovery as chronicled in past issues of Scientific American

By Daniel C. Schlenoff

OCTOBER 1959
FOUNDER OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS— “Identical-twin grafts have demonstrated that where an immunological barrier does not exist kidneys can be successfully transplanted to cure otherwise incurable kid­-ney and vascular disease. We transplanted a kidney from a healthy man to his criti­cally uremic brother. Though the men were probably not identical twins, we hoped that their relationship might make for some immunologic compatibility. The recipient was given a total dose of X-rays large enough to depress his reticuloendothelial tissues severely. As the patient’s reticuloendothelial system recovers from the radiation, it may be forced to become familiarized with the antigens and the transplanted kidney. It is as yet too early to evaluate the results of this transplant, but initially it appears to be successful. —John P. Merrill”

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=50-100-150-oct-09&print=true