Ethical Thought in Cardiac Xenotransplantation
- VernacularTitle:异种心脏移植的伦理思考
- Author:
Zhaobin XU
;
Yifeng YANG
;
Daren HE
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cardiac Xenotransplantation;
Technology Ethics;
Social Ethics;
Immunological Rejection;
Rights of Animals
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
1994;0(06):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The shortage of human hearts has brought the current research focus on finding an animal source as substitute hearts.The immunological barriers to cardiac xenotransplantation are now more clearly defined,allowing retrospective interpretation of past clinical experience in humans.Due to physiological compatibilities as well as ethical and infectious considerations,pigs have now emerged as the most likely source of future xenografts.With the introduction of transgenic pigs expressing human complement regulatory proteins and new immunosuppressive strategies have shown early promise in the laboratory,cardiac xenotransplantation has been the social focus.This article explores ethical issues that surround developments in this field.