Graftavstøtning

Graftavstøtning is a medical term referring to the rejection of a transplanted organ by the recipient's immune system. This occurs when the recipient's body recognizes the transplanted organ as foreign and mounts an immune response to attack and destroy it. The immune system's primary function is to defend the body against pathogens, and in the case of transplantation, it mistakenly identifies the donor organ as a threat.

There are different types of graft rejection. Hyperacute rejection happens very rapidly, within minutes to hours of the transplant, and is usually due to pre-existing antibodies in the recipient's blood that attack the donor organ's blood vessels. Acute rejection typically occurs within days to months after the transplant and is mediated by T-cells and antibodies that target the transplanted organ's cells. Chronic rejection develops slowly over months or years and leads to gradual damage and loss of function of the transplanted organ.

To prevent or manage graft rejection, recipients of organ transplants are prescribed immunosuppressant medications. These drugs work by suppressing the activity of the immune system, making it less likely to attack the transplanted organ. However, these medications can also increase the risk of infections and other side effects. Regular monitoring and medical follow-up are crucial to detect and manage any signs of rejection. The success of organ transplantation relies heavily on balancing the suppression of the immune response against the risk of infection and other complications.