Signs of Kidney Transplant Rejection

Kidneys play important role in our bodies. They filter our blood from toxic materials and turn them into urine to get out of our bodies. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, you have a greater risk of kidney disease. When kidney disease happens, it means your kidney cannot function as it should. Advanced chronic kidney disease can cause toxic and waste materials to build up in your body so that without the help of dialysis or kidney transplant, you cannot survive. Comparing the two treatments, kidney transplant seems to be a better option than dialysis. Besides the benefits, kidney transplant procedure may have some risks as well. Rejection is the main risk that may threaten your kidney. However, knowing the signs of kidney transplant rejection can prevent serious damage to the kidney and can help treat it. But first, let us talk about the signs of rejection and know them better.

What is a kidney transplant rejection?

The immune system defends our body by attacking the intruders. When you have a kidney transplant, your immune system detects your transplanted organ as foreign tissue and attacks it to protect your body! The immune system reaction causes kidney failure or at least damage to the transplanted kidney. Fortunately, by detecting the rejection in the early stages, your kidney can be treated. It is so essential to take your medications on time before long-lasting damage happens

Signs of rejection

Mostly, rejections happen during the first 6 months after the transplant surgery. As time passes, the risk of kidney transplant rejection decreases but it is still possible. A lot of rejection episodes can only be detected by a blood test. However, it is vital to know the most common signs and symptoms related to kidney rejection. If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your transplant team at once:

• Fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Tenderness and pain on the kidney-transplant site
• Flu-like symptoms like chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and headache
• Swelling
• Sudden weight gain of more than 2-4 pounds within 24-hour
• Serum creatinine increase
• Noticeable decrease in urine output
• Very high blood pressure
• Fatigue

There are other signs of rejection that can be detected through blood work; therefore, having a frequent blood test is essential especially during hospitalization days.

Identifying a kidney transplant rejection

Your transplant team can identify whether kidney rejection is occurring through three protocols:

1. Repeated blood work
2. Kidney ultrasound in order to check the blood flow to the kidney
3. Kidney biopsy

For several weeks after the transplant, you need to give a blood test twice a week. As the renal function is stabilized, the number of blood work is reduced. After the transplant, a kidney biopsy is done in between 3-6 months and once again after one year to see if you are experiencing any signs of rejection.

What is a kidney biopsy?

A kidney biopsy means taking a small sample of kidney tissue in order to test it and find out if the rejection is happening. Doing the biopsy test is an outpatient procedure that can be performed by one of the transplant team physicians or an interventional radiologist. The biopsy procedure often takes between 20 and 30 minutes. For taking the biopsy test, your kidney spot is numbed and a small nick is made on the skin so that it lets a small needle reach your kidney. A small tissue sample of the kidney is collected. Then the sample is examined under the microscope to see if it is exposed to rejection danger. After the procedure, you need to lie for two hours in order to prevent bleeding.

Rejection treatment

Most rejections are mild and can be easily treated by changing the dosage of immunosuppressant medications. If the rejection is diagnosed, your doctor prescribes medications to prevent it from proceeding and treat the rejection. You may need to be hospitalized for 3-5 days or be treated in an outpatient way. Depending on the severity of rejection, your doctor determines the kind of treatment for you. They often increase the dose of anti-rejection medications for this aim. Never try to change or modify your medications. Discuss with your transplant team about your medications and how you should use them, because they may change especially during the first year.

For more information: WHY IRAN IS THE BEST DESTINATION FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT?