Transplant rejection

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Antibodies

Graft rejection; Tissue/organ rejection

• The organ does not function properly
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• Pain or swelling in the location of the organ (rare)
• Fever (rare)

The doctor will feel the area over and around the transplanted organ, which may feel tender to you (particularly with transplanted kidneys).

There are often signs that the organ isn't functioning properly. For example:

• Less urine output with kidney transplants
• Yellow skin color and easy bleeding with liver transplants
• Shortness of breath and less tolerance to exertion with heart transplants

A biopsy of the transplanted organ can confirm that it is being rejected. A routine biopsy is often performed to detect rejection early, before symptoms develop.

When organ rejection is suspected, one or more of the following tests may be performed prior to organ biopsy:

• Lab tests of kidney or liver function
• Kidney ultrasound
• Kidney arteriography
• Abdominal CT scan
• Heart echocardiography
• Chest x-ray

Review Date: 02/15/2007
Reviewed By: Donald Accetta, MD, MPH, President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.