腎臟移植是末期腎衰竭患者最好的治療模式，不只改善了生活品質，也明顯提高病人之 存活率。自從李俊仁教授於1968 年執行亞洲第一例腎臟移植以來，台灣腎臟移植之歷史至今 已屆滿五十年，在移植醫學界的先驅們多年的努力之下，已建立起一套完整的制度，為亞洲 地區之楷模。移植病人及移植腎之存活率均不亞於歐美先進國家。然而，腎臟移植並非十全 十美，病人仍須面臨許多嚴苛的挑戰如排斥、感染、腫瘤、心血管疾病等。對於慢性排斥， 目前仍無有效的治療。台灣末期腎衰竭患者之發生率及盛行率均為世界首位。然而，由於器 官之短缺，有幸接受腎臟移植者少之又少，僅佔所有尿毒症患者的4%。此一強烈的反差是台 灣未來需要面對的嚴肅課題。

Renal transplantation is the best treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal disease, not only because it improves quality of life but also promotes long term survival. It has been 50 years since the first renal transplantation in Asia performed by Professor Chun-Jean Lee in 1968. With the great efforts of transplant pioneers, Taiwan is the leading country in Asia with regards to the legislation of laws in organ transplantation. Statistical analysis of both patient and graft survival revealed an excellent results comparable with western developed countries. However, renal transplant recipients are facing many challenges, such as rejection, infection, malignancy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, there is no effective treatment for chronic rejection. Taiwan ranks first in the incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal failure around the world. On the contrary, only 4% of the uremic patients undergo renal transplantation due to shortage of organ. The big discrepancy between supply and demand is a serious problem in Taiwan and warrants effective solutions in the future.