Acute Transplantation Rejection

Excerpt

Transplantation is the only mode of therapy for most end-stage organ failure affecting the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas. Acute transplantation rejection occurs days to weeks after transplantation. The immune system recognizes the grafted organ as foreign and mounts an immune response, resulting in organ rejection and destruction. The difference between hyperacute and acute graft rejection lies in the presence of preformed antibodies that cause rejection immediately. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching is 1 of 2 critical methods for preventing rejection of allografts, the other being serum crossmatch. Immunosuppressive drugs (eg, azathioprine and corticosteroids) may also prevent acute rejection. Treatment primarily involves immunosuppressive medications to induce tolerance of alloreactive donor cells and avert rejection. Early diagnosis and intervention of acute transplantation rejection are critical to prevent the loss of donor organs and tissues. The deficit of donor organs limits human transplantation success; therefore, using pigs (ie, xenotransplantation) and living donations are alternative strategies employed.