Kidney Transplant
South Africa has a high incidence of renal failure. Transplantation is more cost-effective than dialysis and provides better quality of life.3 An important factor in preventing rejection is good adherence to medication.4,5
Liver Transplant
Adult-to-child living donor liver transplant has been successfully initiated in South Africa.6 Living donor hepatectomy can be safely performed with acceptable outcomes but waiting-list mortality remains unacceptably high.6
Heart Transplant
Pharmacotherapy after heart transplantation aims to prevent complications, reduce morbidity and reduce the chances of organ rejection.7 As part of this, immunosuppression therapy is therefore started soon after transplantation.8
References:
1. Sandoz. News – Media Releases – Sandoz Launches Once-Daily Generic Tacrolimus for Transplant Patients in Europe [Online]. Cited 28 Aug 2021. Available from: https://www.sandoz.com/news/media-releases/sandoz-launches-once-daily-g…
2. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. Professional Information. Apr 2018
3. Muller E. Organ Donation and Transplantation in South Africa - An Update. Continuing Medical Education. 2013;31(6):220-222
4. Antirejection Medications After Kidney Transplant [Online]. Cincinnati Children’s. Jul 2016. Cited 29 Aug 2021. https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/a/immuno
5. Medications [Online]. Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Cited 29 Aug 2021. Available from: https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/services/services-a-z/kidney-services/kidn…
6. Botha JF, Ströbele B, Loveland JA, et al. Living Donor Liver Transplantation in South Africa: The Donor Experience. South African Journal of Surgery. 2019;57(3):11-16. doi:10.17159/2078-5151/2019/v57n3a2998
7. Botta DM, Geibel J. Heart Transplantation Medication: Medication Summary [Online]. The Heart.org Medscape. 26 Nov 2019. Cited 29 Aug 2021. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/429816-medication
8. Botta DM, Geibel J. Heart Transplantation Medication: Immunosuppressants [Online]. The Heart.org Medscape. 26 Nov 2019. Cited 29 Aug 2021. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/429816-medication#2