Recipient and non-recipient attitudes regarding xenotransplantation.

Xenotransplantation research has occurred intermittently without success this century and is also not an area without controversy, which includes the potential health risks that could occur and the use of animals. The tremendous discrepancy between those in need of transplantation and the number of living and cadaveric donors has once again renewed interest in this field. The National Kidney Foundation undertook an opinion survey to facilitate understanding of both transplant recipients' and non-recipients' knowledge of, and attitudes toward, xenotransplantation. The majority of respondents approved of the concept and greater than 70% of both groups would consider a xenotransplant. The main concern of both groups was the ability of the animal organ to function properly.