Kidney Transplant Failure
Kidney Transplant Failure
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Kidney Transplant Failure
Transplantation is considered the only remaining therapy for individuals with end-stage organs failure. However, they can exhibit acute rejection days to weeks after the operation. Kidney transplant is among the best therapeutic for renal conditions (Fernández‐Ruiz et al., 2019). The body's immune system starts to recognize the donated organ as a foreign object the attacks it. The attack can lead to kidney destruction and final rejection. Nonetheless, allografts rejection can be prevented by cross-matching serum and matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine can also be used in lowering the cases of acute kidney rejection.
The Reasons why the Hispanic-American Presented the Above Signs
The Hispanic-American is exhibiting the signs that occur with a period of six months of using immunosuppressants. Some of the immunosuppressant drugs that the Hispanic-American man has been taking are Tacrolimus and Cyclosporine. The signs that the man is showing occur in transplant patients whose immune systems have rejected the donated organs six months after the transplant. The most common side effect of kidney rejection is a flu-like feeling characterized by the high fever of about 101˚F, general body aches, and headaches (Fernández‐Ruiz et al., 2019). A patient with acute kidney rejection also shows high blood pressure, reduced urination, and fatigue. Therefore, there are higher chances that the Hispanic-American can have acute kidney rejection since he portrays signs that usually occur within six months after the transplant. For example, the man reports having reduced urination, increased weight, feeling tired, and fever.
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The Genes Associated with the Development of Acute Kidney Rejection
The IMS1 gene locus triggers most kidney rejection cases in the body. Genomic incompatibilities between the recipients and donors also cause allo-sensitization. The allo-sensitization mainly occurs against the new antigens. Besides, the recessive inheritances in gene-disrupting variants also increase the chances of allograft rejection. LIMS1 gene locus is too associated with the encoding of minor histocompatibility antigens.
The Process of Immunosuppression and Its Effects on The Body Systems
Immunosuppression is the process through which the immune system is reduced from self-activation. The immune system has some portions with immunosuppressive effects on other body parts. Immunosuppression can be induced using drugs with varying mechanisms of action (Fernández‐Ruiz et al., 2019). The induction prepares the bone marrow to deter organs transplant rejection. Fusarium subglutinans is one of the commonly used drugs in preventing allograft rejection among transplant patients.
Immunosuppression often starts with induction therapy that involves using multiple drugs with different reactions in the body. Immunosuppression therapy uses high dosages of antibody agents to avoid the rejection of transplanted organs in the body. Besides, immunosuppression can involve the use of advanced doses of drugs such as cyclosporine (Neoral), Tacrolimus (Prograf), as well as Imuran (Azathioprine) (Fernández‐Ruiz et al., 2019). Maintenance is the next step after induction in the immunosuppression process. At this stage, the caregivers ensure that they closely supervise the patients to observe any indications of side effects due to the high drugs dosages used. Suppose the patients show vital signs such as weight gain, high blood pressure, fever, and high temperatures. Such signs are associated with acute rejection of a transplanted kidney. This is considered the most crucial stage in the management of organ transplants. Immediate actions such as administering an immunosuppressant should be taken when an organ transplant starts exhibiting the above signs. The objective of immunosuppressant therapy is to establish a course that could deter organ rejection and minimize the side effects of drugs. A patient taking immunosuppressant drugs is supposed to take the medications exactly as their doctor's prescriptions. A simple alteration in the medication regimen could trigger the rejection of a transplanted organ. Therefore, caregivers are supposed to keenly follow how their patients are taking drugs and responding to medications. For example, the nurses can conduct regular blood tests to monitor the effectiveness of the immunosuppressive drugs.
The caregivers should use the test result to recommend whether there would be a need for any adjustments in the medication. Immunosuppression can have adverse effects on the body systems. Immunosuppressed patients are usually susceptible to many infections and illnesses that threaten their health. Immunosuppression often increases the chances of opportunistic infections, especially among transplant patients. Opportunistic infections can be a result of fungi, bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Immunosuppressed patients also experience various derangements, especially in the blood count parameters used in indicating infectious etiology. Infections in immunosuppressed patients are more frequent, hard to manage, and last longer than in individuals whose immune systems are standard. The infections mainly occur in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Immunosuppression can also lead to frequent infections and inflammation of different body organs. Immunosuppression too causes abnormal growth and development among children.
In summation, there are limited treatment options for individuals with end-stage organ disease or failure. Transplant serves as the only hope for such patients. However, the patients' bodies might reject the donated organs. Immunosuppression is one of the factors that can lead to acute kidney failure. Besides, people with immunosuppression also suffer from regular infections that are hard to treat or manage. Most infections are mainly caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses.
References
Fernández‐Ruiz, M., Albert, E., Giménez, E., Ruiz‐Merlo, T., Parra, P., López‐Medrano, F., ... & Aguado, J. M. (2019). Monitoring of alphatorquevirus DNA levels for the prediction of immunosuppression‐related complications after kidney transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation, 19(4), 1139-1149.
