Hello. Thank you for taking the time to learn about kidney transplant with us today.
Whether you're waiting for transplant or recovering, we hope this
video will help you better understand the functions of your immune system,
why transplanted organs can be rejected, the role of transplant medicines and why
it's important to take them. First, we will cover the basics, your immune system
and its function. Your immune system is your body's defense mechanism against
outside invaders. These are things that can make you sick, like bacteria, viruses
or fungi. The immune system has many layers of defense and is made up of a
complex series of organs and cells. For our purposes the important part of the
immune system you should know about are in the blood. These include things like
antibodies and white blood cells. Antibodies are like small flags that tag
a foreign invader and mark them as foreign. Once the cell has been flagged,
white blood cells will come along and eat up the foreign cell. In addition to
eating up outside invaders, your immune system will also check if
any of your own body cells are becoming abnormal, for example cancer cells.
The immune system will eat up abnormal and dead cells too. When you receive a kidney
transplant, the immune system will recognize that the new kidney is foreign,
and mark it with antibodies. The immune system treats the new kidney like a
foreign invader and will work hard to fight it. This damages the transplanted
kidney making unable to work. This is called rejection. To make sure this
doesn't happen, you are given immunosuppressant drugs after you get a
kidney transplant. Immunosuppressant drugs are called
anti-rejection medications, or transplant medicines. As the name suggests
immunosuppressants suppress your immune system. They work by acting on white
blood cells to make them weaker. You must take your medicines at the exact dose,
the time that's prescribed and remember to take them every day. When you don't
take your medicines regularly, the amount of medicine your body may become too low
to suppress your immune system properly. Your immune system won't become strong
and active again and will start attacking your kidney.
The transplant medicines keep you safe, but they have side effects. Since your
immune system is suppressed, the most common side effects of transplant
medicines are: you are more likely to get infection from bacteria or viruses, and
your body is less able to keep abnormal cells like cancer cells in
check. Some types of cancer like skin cancer or lymphoma are more common after
transplant. You can help reduce the risks of any side effects. Your transplant team
will explain this in more detail after you've had your transplant. In summary, by
now you know that rejection is a normal part of your body's natural defense when
you receive a kidney. Remember, transplant medicines only work
when taken regularly and on time. Some side effects of the transplant medicines
are increased for super infection and some types of cancer. If you have any
questions about anything covered in this video don't hesitate to let us know.
Speak to a member of the kidney transplant team by calling the number in
the description or by going on our website.