Doctors Report Transplant Breakthrough

January 23rd, 2008 in Medicine & Health / Research
Doctors Report Transplant Breakthrough (AP)

Los Angeles patient Derek Besenfelder, a public relations director for a plastic surgery clinic, holds his hands close to the position of his "third kidney" in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. Besenfelder, who received a kidney transplant from his mother along with a bone marrow three years ago, has been able to discontinue taking anti-rejection drugs. The breakthrough experimental transplant saves recipients from taking drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent organ rejection. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

(AP) -- In what's being called a major advance in organ transplants, doctors say they have developed a technique that could free many patients from having to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives.

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