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News Release
Celebrating 50 Years of Saving Lives through Transplantation
DENVER (Dec. 21, 2004) — When Nobel laureate winner, Dr. Joseph E. Murray and his colleagues transplanted a kidney from Ronald Herrick into his identical twin, Richard, on Dec. 23, 1954, they were exploring unknown territory. It was the first time an organ from one individual had ever been successfully transplanted into another. Fifty years and some 400,000 transplants later, transplants have evolved from an experimental procedure to common therapy for many serious conditions.
University of Colorado Hospital's kidney transplant program was started in the early 1960s by world-renowned surgeon Dr. Thomas Starzl. The first kidney transplant at University of Colorado Hospital was performed under Starzl's hand in March 1962 between identical twins who did not require immunosuppression.
In 1963, less than 10 years after Murray's successful kidney transplant, Starzl successfully completed the world's first liver transplant at University of Colorado Hospital. Just this year, the hospital reached its own transplant milestone when the 1,000th liver transplant was performed in July.
Consistent survival in most early patients was achieved only through organ donation from living, related donors. At the time, the results with living, non-related donors or deceased donors were variable and unpredictable. In1980, Starzl was the first surgeon in the United States to use cyclosporine, the best immunosuppressant to-date.
"Medical advancements have had a profound influence on the success rate of organ transplants," said Dr. Igal Kam, division head of transplant surgery at University of Colorado Hospital and professor at the CU School of Medicine. "The introduction of cyclosporin – a drug that effectively treats organ rejection – was probably one of the most significant influences on transplant success."
Today, the hospital's transplant program is among the five largest in the country and is one of the only programs of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. More than 1,600 people have received a life enhancing or lifesaving kidney transplant at University of Colorado Hospital since the first successful transplant in 1963. In 2003, the transplant team performed a record-breaking 123 kidney transplants – the first time more than 100 kidney transplants were performed here in a calendar year.
Despite the technological advances over the last 50 years, transplantation still relies on humans sharing the gift of life through organ donation. Today more than 87,000 men, women and children are waiting for organs. If enough people sign up to be organ donors, it is hoped that donation rates might one day keep pace with the advancements in technology, and everyone who needs an organ will get one.
University of Colorado Hospital is the Rocky Mountain region's only academic tertiary care and referral center, and has been recognized as one of America's best hospitals, according to U.S.News & World Report. Located in Denver and Aurora, Colo., the hospital is part of the University of Colorado Denver campus, one of three campuses in the University of Colorado system. For more information, visit the Web site at www.uch.edu.