What Are the Symptoms of an Organ Transplant Rejection?
The symptoms of organ transplant rejection vary based on the specific organ transplanted. Organ transplant rejection occurs when the recipient’s immune system attacks the newly implanted tissue or organ. Symptoms of this immune system reaction include poor function of the organ, pain, and general discomfort. Doctors monitor for organ transplant rejection as soon as the recipient receives the transplanted organ. The first sign of rejection is a malfunctioning or poorly functioning organ. In a heart transplant, the heart may not pump properly. In a kidney transplant, the kidneys may not filter the blood properly, allowing waste products to reenter the blood stream. Liver transplant recipients face graft rejection. The immune system’s response to any transplant is a critical aspect of any organ transplantation. After the initial procedure, monitoring the function of the organ is critical to determine if the body’s immune system is compromising it. The immune system reacts to antigens on t