Hylkimisriskiä

Hylkimisriskiä refers to the risk of rejection in the context of organ transplantation. When a person receives an organ from a donor, their immune system may recognize the new organ as foreign and launch an attack against it. This immune response can lead to organ damage and ultimately failure, a process known as rejection.

There are several types of rejection. Hyperacute rejection occurs very soon after transplantation, sometimes within minutes, and is caused by pre-existing antibodies in the recipient's blood that attack the donor organ. Acute rejection typically happens within the first few months and involves a more gradual immune response. Chronic rejection is a slow, progressive process that can occur over years, leading to gradual loss of organ function.

To mitigate hylkimisriskiä, recipients are prescribed immunosuppressant medications. These drugs work by suppressing the immune system, making it less likely to attack the transplanted organ. However, these medications also make recipients more susceptible to infections and other side effects. Careful monitoring of organ function and immune responses is crucial throughout the recipient's life to manage rejection and ensure the long-term success of the transplant. Histocompatibility testing, which compares the genetic makeup of the donor and recipient, is performed before transplantation to minimize the risk of rejection.