Solid organ rejection

Understanding Solid Organ Rejection

The body’s immune system is designed to protect us from foreign substances. However, when a person receives an organ transplant, the donor organ is considered a “foreign” object. The body may recognize it as a threat and try to reject it. Solid organ rejection is the body’s inability to accept an organ from a donor and allow it to remain functional in the body.

Rejection of an organ transplant is actually quite common, and is the body’s natural response to a foreign organ. The body triggers an autoimmune response that fights against the donor organ, trying unsuccessfully to drive it out of the body.

Transplant rejection is monitored and treated, using medications and other therapies, but there is no guarantee that the organ will not be rejected. It is important that close monitoring be done after a transplant has been performed.

Types of Rejection

Organ rejection may be acute or chronic, depending on the symptoms.

• Acute Rejection – This type of rejection occurs suddenly, and it is the most common form of rejection. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, changes in the size of the transplanted organ, or pain and tenderness near the transplanted organ. Treatment usually requires medication, such as high doses of immunosuppressant drugs.
• Chronic Rejection – This type of rejection occurs over time, and is much less common than acute rejection. It is less severe but also less easily treated. Symptoms may include hardening of the blood vessels that nourish the organ, or damage to the cells within the organ. Treatment may involve lifestyle changes, medications, or a transplant.

Diagnosing Rejection

Rejection is usually diagnosed through biopsy of the organ to evaluate the health of the transplanted organ, and to determine if there are signs of tissue damage or inflammation that could indicate rejection. Other tests, such as blood tests, may also be done to measure how well the body is responding to the donor organ.

Preventing & Treating Rejection

It is difficult to completely prevent organ rejection, but there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. One such step is to make sure that the donor organ is closely matched to the recipient. Immunosuppressant drugs can also be taken to help reduce the risk of rejection.

Organ rejection is usually treated with drugs, such as corticosteroids, or with other therapies, such as plasmapheresis. In severe cases, a second transplant may be necessary. Depending on the type of transplant, a person may need lifelong treatment with immunosuppressive medications or other therapies.