Health Library Kidney Transplant: Possible Complications After Transplant
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What Are Possible Complications Following Kidney Transplantation?The immune system is the body’s way to protect a person from things that don’t naturally belong. The immune system attacks these foreign cells in an attempt to destroy what doesn’t belong. Foreign cells may include:
After transplant, the transplant team prescribes special immunosuppressant or anti-rejection medicines for your child. Without these drugs to suppress the immune system, it would probably recognize the transplanted organ as a foreign object and attack it. The most important thing that you can do to prevent a rejection episode from occurring is to make sure your child takes her medicines every day as directed. Sometimes, a rejection episode can occur even though you and your child have done everything correctly. During a Rejection EpisodeDuring a rejection episode the transplant kidney may not function as well as it should. This does not necessarily mean that it will stop working completely or that your child will lose the new kidney. When recognized and treated early, it is possible to stop the rejection with little or no damage to the kidney. In addition to taking medicine as directed, it is very important that you keep all of your child's follow-up clinic appointments so that the transplant team can detect any signs of rejection by changes in your child's physical exam or in kidney function lab tests. Although rejection can occur without any symptoms at all, you should notify the transplant team immediately if any of the following warning signs occur:
Kidney BiopsyIn most cases where rejection is suspected, a kidney biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. After applying numbing medicine, a needle is guided through the abdominal wall and into the kidney to remove a tiny piece of kidney tissue. By looking at the tissue under the microscope, the doctors can tell if rejection is the source of the problem. If a biopsy is done, your child will stay in the hospital to rest in bed for at least eight to 10 hours. If a rejection episode is confirmed, we give your child a strong anti-rejection medicine (usually through an IV) for three to 10 days, depending on which medicine we use. Sometimes this may require a few additional days in the hospital. After we treat the rejection, the treatment team may change one or more of your child’s immunosuppressant medicines to help prevent future rejection episodes. As discussed earlier, the best way for you to minimize your child’s risk for rejection is to ensure that your child:
Infection Following Kidney TransplantInfection is another common complication that can occur after kidney transplantation. The risk of infection is greater after transplantation because the immune system has been slowed down by the transplant immunosuppressant medicines, making it harder for your child’s body to fight infection. This risk is greatest in the first few months after transplant, when the doses of these medicines are the highest. As these doses are reduced, your child will be less susceptible to infection since your child’s immune system will not be as suppressed. Here are some things that our Pediatric Kidney Transplant team recommends both you and your doctor do before and after transplant to reduce your risk for infection: Before Transplant
After Transplant
Other ComplicationsHypertension (High Blood Pressure)Hypertension is common after kidney transplant as it is a side effect of some of the immunosuppressant medicines that your child will be taking. The Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program team will monitor blood pressure very carefully at your child’s follow-up visits, and it is likely that your child will need to take one or more blood pressure medicines. Medication Side EffectsMost other post-transplant complications are related to side effects of immunosuppressant medicines and may necessitate additional medicines to treat them if they occur, including:
Developing medication side effects, and at what doses, depends on your child’s genetic makeup and on other partially unknown factors, including chance. Last Updated 10/2021 Reviewed By Julie Zigmond, RN What are the symptoms of transplant rejection?Symptoms may include:. The organ's function may start to decrease.. General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling.. Pain or swelling in the area of the organ (rare). Fever (rare). Flu-like symptoms, including chills, body aches, nausea, cough, and shortness of breath.. Which of the following symptom is suspect for experiencing kidney transplant rejection?The most common kidney-rejection signs and symptoms to look out for include: Fever. Tenderness over the kidney-transplant site. Flu-like symptoms (chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, headache)
What happens when a kidney transplant is rejected?Kidney rejection is usually treated by adjusting your immunosuppressive medicines. You may be admitted to the hospital for a few days so your transplant team can closely monitor your progress and look for signs of infection. Once you recover, your transplant team will continue to follow you closely.
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