Machine learning in solid organ transplantation: Charting the evolving landscape

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Machine learning (ML), a major branch of artificial intelligence, has not only demonstrated the potential to significantly improve numerous sectors of healthcare but has also made significant contributions to the field of solid organ transplantation. ML provides revolutionary opportunities in areas such as donor-recipient matching, post-transplant monitoring, and patient care by automatically analyzing large amounts of data, identifying patterns, and forecasting outcomes.

AIM

To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications on the use of ML in transplantation to understand current research trends and their implications.

METHODS

On July 18, a thorough search strategy was used with the Web of Science database. ML and transplantation-related keywords were utilized. With the aid of the VOS viewer application, the identified articles were subjected to bibliometric variable analysis in order to determine publication counts, citation counts, contributing countries, and institutions, among other factors.

RESULTS

Of the 529 articles that were first identified, 427 were deemed relevant for bibliometric analysis. A surge in publications was observed over the last four years, especially after 2018, signifying growing interest in this area. With 209 publications, the United States emerged as the top contributor. Notably, the "Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation" and the "American Journal of Transplantation" emerged as the leading journals, publishing the highest number of relevant articles. Frequent keyword searches revealed that patient survival, mortality, outcomes, allocation, and risk assessment were significant themes of focus.

CONCLUSION

The growing body of pertinent publications highlights ML's growing presence in the field of solid organ transplantation. This bibliometric analysis highlights the growing importance of ML in transplant research and highlights its exciting potential to change medical practices and enhance patient outcomes. Encouraging collaboration between significant contributors can potentially fast-track advancements in this interdisciplinary domain.

Keywords: Machine learning; Artificial Intelligence; Solid organ transplantation; Bibliometric analysis

Core Tip: Machine learning (ML) is transforming solid organ transplantation by improving donor-recipient matching, post-transplant monitoring, and patient care via advanced data analysis and outcome forecasting. This bibliometric analysis of 427 relevant publications shows a significant increase in interest and research, especially since 2018, with the United States leading the way. Key themes include patient survival, mortality, outcomes, allocation, and risk assessment, demonstrating ML's promising ability to transform medical practices and improve patient outcomes in transplantation. Collaboration among key contributors is critical for accelerating progress in this interdisciplinary field.