Rejection is when the organ recipient's immune system recognizes the donor
organ as foreign and attempts to eliminate it. It often occurs when your immune
system detects things like bacteria or a virus. Some degree of rejection occurs
with every transplant, but how clinically significant the rejection depends on
the individual.
At least one episode of acute rejection is common within the first year after
a transplant, but it can also occur years after a transplant. Despite the use of
immunosuppression therapy, acute rejection can occur and often lead to chronic
rejection. Chronic rejection, which is characterized by gradual loss of organ
function, is an ongoing concern for transplant recipients because it can occur
weeks, months or years after transplantation. Therefore, organ recipients should
be aware of the signs of both acute and chronic rejection. Call your doctor as
soon as you experience any of them. Symptoms include:
.Pain or tenderness over the transplant site
. Fever
.Flu-like symptoms such as chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness,
headache, dizziness and body aches and pains
. Change in pulse rate
. Weight gain
. Swelling
.Less urine
You can help prevent rejection by taking your medicines and following your
diet, but watching for signs of rejection – like fever or soreness in the area
of the new kidney or a change in the amount of urine you make – is important.
Report any such changes to your health care team. Transplantation isn’t for
everyone; however, medical advances are making the procedure safer and easier
for donors and recipients.
