Development of Solid Organ Transplantation in Syria

Syria is a country with a population of 23 millions. The first kidney transplant in Syria was performed in 1979 at Harasta Hospital in Damascus. The donor was a living relative; the recipient received simple immunosuppressants comprising of azathioprine and steroids as the transplantation took place prior to the cyclosporine era. However, the renal allograft remained functional for more than 25 years. The transplant surgeon was an eminent urologist, Dr. Maher Al-Houssami, who 25 years later, became the Syrian minister of health and played a major role in setting the national guidelines that regulated the legal and medical aspects of organ donation and transplantation in Syria. More importantly, he was a fearless leader who worked hard in both words and deeds for banning commercialism in this field.