ABO-incompatible organ transplantation

Purpose of review Owing to the extreme shortage of organs from cadaveric donors, several attempts have been made to expand the donor pool. As a result of recent advances in immunosuppressive therapy, ABO-incompatible organ transplantation has been performed. In this review I discuss the recent literature on ABO-incompatible organ transplantation. Recent findings Mechanisms underlying graft survival in ABO-incompatible organ transplantation, i.e. the concepts of accommodation and B-cell tolerance, have been understood. Mechanisms underlying acute anti body-mediated rejection are also becoming clearer. Summary The therapeutic strategy for ABO-incompatible organ transplantation has generally been established owing to a clearer understanding of mechanisms underlying graft survival and rejection. Outcomes have improved and ABO-incompatible organ transplantation is now being performed throughout the world.