transplantation

the tranfer of an organ or tissue from one person to another (allotransplant) or within the body grafting of an individual (autotransplant), i.e. skin and bone grafting. The person from whom the organ is obtained is known as the donor and the one who receives it is known as the recipient. Organ transplants involving the KIDNEY , HEART , BONE MARROW , CORNEA , LUNGS and LIVER have all become more common. Success varies but is improving in all areas, especially with the advent of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection by the recipient's immune system. See also IMMUNOSUPPRESSION and GRAFT .