Alena’s journey transcends ordinary resilience. After battling pulmonary hypertension for a decade, surviving two double lung transplants, and undergoing over 200 photopheresis sessions, she now embraces life with just 34% lung function—yet lives it fully. Her story bridges cultures, identities, and the profound gift of donated organs. As she marks 11 years since her first […]
Globally, over 4,500 lung transplants are performed annually. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension represents a unique transplantation indication because: Given these specific challenges, the authors developed guidelines for managing Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension patients who are lung transplant candidates through a modified Delphi study. The expert panel reached unanimous consensus on several key aspects of lung transplantation for
A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether tacrolimus or cyclosporine is more effective at reducing chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in lung transplant patients was publshed on the British Medical Journal in April 2025. The researchers analyzed 4 randomized trials involving 662 patients with a mean age of 45-55 years, mostly with Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents a significant economic burden on society, as revealed by a comprehensive Swedish study published on Pulmonary Circulation on April 17, 2025, examining the societal costs associated with this condition. The research tracked patients across various pulmonary arterial hypertension subgroups—idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue disease,
Communication plays a crucial role in organ donation processes. According to the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), terminology choices can significantly impact public perception, potentially creating unnecessary fear that reduces donation rates. AOPO advocates for language that honors donors’ contributions and builds public confidence in the donation system. Recommended Terminology Shifts Surgical Procedure Terminology
Gabi Oniscu, Professor of Transplantation Surgery at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and President of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), is schedule to give a TedX talk about ”The power of three: death, life and the gift in between”. He has written on his LinkedIn page that he will recount three stories “that capture
Three heart failure patients with pulmonary hypertension (WHO Group II) became eligible for heart transplants after receiving the Aeson Total Artificial Heart, which effectively took place after 243, 155 and 109 days respectively. This innovative device, implanted with the help of the advanced Carmat system, replaces the heart’s ventricles and maintains continuous blood circulation, stabilizing
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pioneering clinical trials by two biotech firms to evaluate the transplantation of kidneys from genetically engineered pigs into human patients with renal failure. This breakthrough authorization could mark a significant step toward addressing the chronic shortage of human organs for transplant. Until now, such transplants were
The Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension (AfPH) recently concluded its 14th webinar, marking the culmination of an educational initiative that began in June 2023. These virtual gatherings brought together internationally renowned experts in pulmonary hypertension, who shared their expertise on a comprehensive range of topics crucial to advancing patient care and quality of life. The diverse
Transplant International has published a special issue of its journal on “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Transplantation”. This issue presents a collection of studies that examine inequities in transplantation related to race, gender, socioeconomics, and geography, providing evidence and insights into these persistent disparities. Download the pdf of the special issue of Transplant International at
The Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI) organised a patient-directed webinar on “Debunking Myths of Lung Transplantation” on September 25, 2024. This was an outstanding webinar: the explanations were exceptionally clear and delivered in easy-to-understand language, covering every step of the transplant journey—from getting listed and preparing for surgery, through the operation and immediate post-op, to
According to Paul Wischmeyer, Professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery with Tenure and Director of Perioperative Research, at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, USA, virtual reality technology offers a promising solution to improve patient well-being in intensive care settings. Staying in intensive care can be an incredibly challenging and disorienting experience for patients. Many face severe
The 30th The Transplantation Society (TTS) Annual Congress in Istanbul brought together over 2.500 transplant professionals from 90 countries, with a further 500 attending remotely. It began with a memorable opening ceremony, attended by prominent figures such as the Minister of Health, the Governor, and the Mayor of Istanbul. The ceremony featured a compelling speech
Welcome to the third edition of the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension’s “Sharing best practices” series of articles. See also: Sharing best practices on how to implement shared decision making and support patient empowerment: Prof. Marc Humbert, Head of the French Pulmonary Hypertension National Referral network Sharing best practices in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension surgical and
During the European Respiratory Society 2024 Congress in Vienna, which was held 7-11 September 2024, the European Lung Foundation and ERN-LUNG lung transplantation group presented a new booklet sharing the patient perspective on transplantation. The booklet features an introduction by the European Lung Foundatiion Chair Dimitris Kontopidis and testimonials from lung transplant patients Natalia Maeva
Lot is a vibrant young woman with an incredibly positive outlook on life, despite the fact that her daily routine is heavily influenced by her health. Born with a congenital heart defect, Lot was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at just six years old. Reflecting on her wait for donor lungs, Lot shares: “About
The Concept Paper issued by the Ministry of the Interior of the Hungarian government, holding the European Council Presidency from July to December 2024, outlines a comprehensive strategy that encompasses increased organ availability, enhanced efficiency and accessibility of transplant systems, and the improvement of quality and safety standards. It stands as a call to action
The “Orgamites Mighty Education Programme” is a free global organ donation and health education programme for children aged 5-11. It uses educational resources, tools, toys, and tech to inspire and equip more students, teachers, and families everywhere to talk more about organ donation and how to take better care of our health. The Orgamites programme
The patient booklet on lung transplant by AIPI, Italian Pulmonary Hypertension publication “Guida al Trapianto di polmoni” has been adapted and translated into English by Pisana Ferrari, President of AIPI. You can now translate the entire booklet directly from here using the orange button at the bottom of the page: 40 languages are currently available
The latest special issue of “Transplant International,” titled “Ethical and Legal Aspects of Organ Donation and Transplantation,” tackles the intricate challenges inherent in organ donation and transplantation. Edited by Frederike Ambagtsheer, Coby Annema, David Paredes-Zapata and John Forsythe, this collection comprises 16 articles penned by global experts, spanning the years 2022 to 2024. These articles
