Research and Innovation. What is transplant rejection, and can we teach the body to tolerate a donor organ? Everyone who receives an organ transplant has an immune reaction that can cause organ rejection. August 31, By Staff Writer. University of Minnesota Health is home to one of the oldest, most successful transplant programs in the world.
Learn more about our renowned care. What is transplant rejection—and what causes it? To prevent rejection, transplant recipients take medications that suppress the immune system in order to prevent it from attacking a donor organ. Have there been recent medical advances in this area?
Your research with Dr. Jenkins is focused on predicting organ rejection. Can you tell us more? Acute rejection typically occurs at least within the first year after a transplant if it occurs at all. Chronic rejection occurs over a period of months or years leading to the slow loss of organ function, usually by no fault of the patient as long as anti-rejection medication is taken consistently. To reduce the chances of transplant rejection and loss of a transplant, the following steps are taken before transplantation occurs :.
The following steps can be taken after transplantation occurs :. This type of rejection is seen when a recipient is given the wrong type of blood. For example, when a person is given type A blood when he or she is type B.
Acute rejection may occur any time from the first week after the transplant to 3 months afterward. All recipients have some amount of acute rejection. Chronic rejection can take place over many years. The body's constant immune response against the new organ slowly damages the transplanted tissues or organ. Symptoms may include: The organ's function may start to decrease General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling Pain or swelling in the area of the organ rare Fever rare Flu-like symptoms, including chills, body aches, nausea, cough, and shortness of breath The symptoms depend on the transplanted organ or tissue.
Exams and Tests. The doctor will examine the area over and around the transplanted organ. Signs that the organ is not working properly include: High blood sugar pancreas transplant Less urine released kidney transplant Shortness of breath and less ability to exercise heart transplant or lung transplant Yellow skin color and easy bleeding liver transplant A biopsy of the transplanted organ can confirm that it is being rejected.
When organ rejection is suspected, one or more of the following tests may be done before the organ biopsy: Abdominal CT scan Chest x-ray Heart echocardiography Kidney arteriography Kidney ultrasound Lab tests of kidney or liver function. Outlook Prognosis. Single episodes of acute rejection rarely lead to organ failure. Possible Complications. When to Contact a Medical Professional.
Alternative Names. Organ Transplantation Read more. Although the mechanism of action of hydroxychloroquine is not well defined, it appears that this drug interferes with the processes of antigen processing and activation of autoimmunity. Because of its mechanism, the effects of hydroxychloroquine are not as immediate as that of other anti-inflammatory drugs, but it is still considered a good companion therapy for SLE.
Over the next 6 months, Kerry follows her treatment plan and her symptoms do not return. However, future flare-ups are likely to occur. She will need to continue her treatment for the rest of her life and seek medical attention whenever new symptoms develop. Skip to main content. Diseases of the Immune System. Search for:. Organ Transplantation and Rejection Learning Objectives Explain why human leukocyte antigens HLAs are important in tissue transplantation Explain the types of grafts possible and their potential for interaction with the immune system Describe what occurs during graft-versus-host disease GVHD.
Think About It What part of the immune response is responsible for graft rejection? Explain why blood relatives are preferred as organ donors. Describe the role of immunosuppression in transplantation. What cells are responsible for GVHD? There are currently more than a dozen different tissues and organs used in human transplantations. Learn more about them at this website.
0コメント