Transplant Rejection

A lot of people get different transplanted organs worldwide, but some of them might go through transplant rejection, which could lead to losing this organ.

Transplant rejection

Transplant rejection occurs when the body refuses the transplanted organ and tries to attack it and get rid of it.

Causes of transplant rejection

Usually, the immune system protects the body from foreign and harmful things, like germs, and attacks them in order to get rid of them. In the case of a transplanted organ, the immune system might recognize it as a foreign item and try to attack it as well.

Types of transplant rejection:

• Hyperacute rejection: it occurs within minutes after the transplantation, and that’s because the tissues from both the donor and the recipient are completely unmatched.
• Acute rejection: it occurs within the first week to 3 months after the transplantation, and all people might go through acute rejection at different levels.
• Chronic rejection: it occurs over many years.

Symptoms of transplant rejection

Symptoms of transplant rejection differ depending on the transplanted organ. For example, a rejected kidney might cause a decreased urine amount, and a rejected heart might lead to heart failure. The symptoms in general might include:

• A decrease in the function of the transplanted organ.
• Weakness and feeling ill.
• Flu-like symptoms.
• Rarely, fever and swelling or pain in the area of the transplanted organ.

Diagnosis of transplant rejection

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.
• A biopsy from the transplanted organ.

Treatment of transplant rejection

• The patient is always given immunosuppressants after transplantation in order to prevent transplant rejection, and if this happens, the dose might be increased until the rejection signs stop, then it’s lowered back to the normal dose.