Organ Rejection: Understanding the Basics and Key Factors

When talking about organ rejection, the immune system’s attack on a transplanted organ. Also called graft rejection, it is the main hurdle after transplant surgery, the procedure that places a donor organ into a recipient. Managing it relies on immunosuppressive therapy, drugs that dampen immune activity to protect the graft and careful HLA matching, the compatibility check of human leukocyte antigens between donor and recipient. These concepts together shape the outcome of any transplant.

Organ rejection comes in two major flavors: acute, which shows up weeks to months after surgery, and chronic, a slow‑moving loss of function that can span years. Acute rejection often feels like fever, pain, or reduced organ performance, and a quick boost in immunosuppressants can turn the tide. Chronic rejection, on the other hand, results from long‑term immune injury and vascular changes, making it harder to reverse. Both types are tightly linked to how well the donor’s HLA markers line up with the recipient’s; a closer match reduces the odds of a fierce immune response.

Today's standard of care leans on a cocktail of drugs—calcineurin inhibitors, antiproliferative agents, and steroids—to keep the immune system in check without crippling it. Monitoring blood levels, kidney function, and even biopsy snapshots helps clinicians spot early warning signs before a full‑blown episode. Emerging tools like gene‑expression profiling and donor‑derived cell‑free DNA promise even sharper detection. Below, you’ll find a curated set of articles that break down specific medicines, compare treatment plans, and dive into the science behind graft survival, giving you a practical road map to navigate organ rejection.