The first, long-term successful kidney transplantation happened 37 years ago in Hungary. At the same time an organized renal program was initiated followed by transplantations of other solid organs. The authors remember previous milestone operations and the preceding events. In 1982, Hungary was the first country in the Eastern block to introduce cyclosporine. After the Iron Curtain fell new circumstances and possibilities opened for the transplant community also. Young transplant surgeons were sent to Western countries returning with new experiences. In 1992 the heart transplantation program started in Budapest. The Universities of Debrecen and Pécs joined Budapest and Szeged with renal transplant programs. In 1994, a new Department was initiated at Semmelweis University with an immediate increase of 50%. The next year a liver transplantation program was launched. Pancreas transplants were performed in 1998 in Pécs, followed by Budapest. In 2003, a collaboration was initiated between Geneva and Budapest for islet transplantation and another with Vienna for lung transplantation. This article provides an overview of Hungarian transplant activities.
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