Monitoring for Rejection
Your body's response to any foreign object is
to destroy it, so rejection is a normal reaction
to the transplanted organ, which your body views
as a foreign object. Immune cells immediately
start fighting this foreign body. New organ rejection
is normal and can occur at any time after a transplant.
A few patients will experience one or more episodes
of rejection during their recovery period. If
left unchecked, the immune cells can damage or
destroy a new organ, but most rejection cases
are easily treated. Constant monitoring for rejection
-- and prompt medical attention -- will keep your
new organ functioning.
Rejection may be mild or severe. Take any symptoms
of kidney rejection very seriously:
- Fluid retention
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal kidney function tests
In most cases, rejection can be controlled if
treated promptly. That's why it's important to
contact your transplant nurse or physician immediately
if you experience any rejection symptoms.
However, rejection may occur without any symptoms
and would only be found in blood tests. For this
reason it is very important to keep your clinic
appointments and obtain blood tests as prescribed
by your physicians and coordinators. Your doctor
may need to perform a biopsy to make a definitive
diagnosis. If you are having a rejection episode,
you may be admitted to the hospital for treatment.
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If you received your kidney transplant
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
and are experiencing signs of organ rejection,
call the transplant nurse at 215-662-6948
during office hours, 9:00 am to 5 pm. After
business hours, call the main hospital number,
215-662-4000, and ask for the transplant
coordinator on call. |
Reviewed by Robert
Grossman, MD
Last updated March 2004
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