Acute rejection
Acute Rejection
Acute rejection (pronounced: uh-kyoot ri-jek-shuhn) is a medical term that refers to the body's immune response to foreign tissue or organs after a transplant. This reaction typically occurs within the first few months after the transplant procedure.
Etymology
The term "acute rejection" is derived from the Latin words "acutus", meaning sharp or severe, and "reicere", meaning to throw back. It is used to describe the body's sharp and immediate response to reject the transplanted organ or tissue.
Definition
Acute rejection is characterized by the body's immune system recognizing the transplanted organ or tissue as foreign and launching an immune response to attack it. This can lead to inflammation and damage to the transplanted organ or tissue, potentially leading to transplant failure.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acute rejection can vary depending on the type of organ transplanted. They may include pain or tenderness over the transplant site, fever, fatigue, and changes in organ function. For example, in a kidney transplant, symptoms may include decreased urine output and increased creatinine levels.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of acute rejection typically involves a combination of clinical assessment, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. In some cases, a biopsy of the transplanted organ may be required.
Treatment
Treatment for acute rejection typically involves increasing the dosage or changing the type of immunosuppressive drugs used to prevent the body's immune response. In severe cases, removal of the transplanted organ may be necessary.
Related Terms
- Chronic rejection: A slower, more gradual immune response to a transplanted organ that can occur months to years after transplantation.
- Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): A condition that can occur after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, where the donated cells attack the recipient's body.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acute rejection
- Wikipedia's article - Acute rejection
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