TRANSPLANT: complications from white blood cells ?

[kristina]

Hello,
I came across an information leaflet about “irradiated blood”, that is, blood treated with radiation
(by x-rays or other forms of radioactivity - not in itself dangerous)
to prevent “Transfusion-Associated Graft-versus-Host Disease” known as “TA-GvHD”.
Quote: “TA-GvHD is a rare but serious complication of blood transfusion caused by white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the transfused blood.
Even a small number of these cells may recognise the patient receiving the blood as ‘different’ and cause a severe illness or even death.
Irradiation of blood prevents lymphocytes dividing and causing harm. For some patients the risk of TA-GvHD lasts only a short time.
For others the risk remains life-long, e.g. patients with an immune system disorder [such as, possibly, Systemic Lupus (SLE/MCTD)].”
I found out that donated kidneys are not subject to “irradiation” which would prevent any problems with white blood cells entering the recipients blood stream
and damaging the recipient. I am told that science has not progressed that far even though the theory sounds a good idea.
So, my question is, what is the risk from white blood cell transference? The kidney being offered could have white blood cells in it. Or could it?
How likely is it that adverse reactions will take place if white cells transfer to the recipient?
Kidney transplant patients take immunosuppressant medication knocking out their immune system, which seems to me to increase the risk of white blood cell transference contamination?
I have not heard of any transplant patients talking about this so I would like to know if it is a significant problem or not.
Your thoughts would be very much appreciated and many thanks from Kristina.   

[Deanne]

I don't have any experience with it, but the fact that I've never seen anyone post here about it tells me this is probably a rare occurrence and probably not worth worrying about.

[kristina]

Many thanks for your kind reply Deanne,
I came across this information whilst researching about kidney-transplants
and it made me wonder. I thank you again for your kind thoughts,
Kristina.

[cassandra]

But wouldn't it be poss to Xray an organ before transplant?

[Charlie B53]

It should be possible to x-ray, or cat scan any transplantable organ, the question may be is it necessary?  Would it be advantageous to do so?  Would the delay to transplant cause any detriment to the viability of the organ?  Radiation is and has been successfully used for sterilization of foodstuffs.  But that may not be a good idea for 'living' tissue.

While the very real possibility of donor blood remaining in an organ exist, I don't doubt the the procedure of transplant, 'rinsing' the organ with a sterile solution, the actual order of blood supply/return may allow further 'rinsing' and for the 'priming' of the organ, the 'bleeding of old blood and air out before the final sealing of the return should minimize the contamination from donor blood, thus reducing any reaction to a minimum such that the rate of incidence is so low as to be unpublished.

This does not invalidate your concern.  No doubt the possibility is real.  Only help is to ensure all measures are taken to lessen the odds of actual incident.  This may be a question better asked of the Doctors in the Transplant Team.

[Simon Dog]

There are bizarre and rare risks.   

One man got ovarian cancer from a transplanted kidney.

A bunch of people got Rabies from one organ donor.

[Vt Big Rig]

Actually I had a long talk with the transplant surgeon about this kind of this  ....... basically the conclusion was that most of what you might catch and more treatable than kidney failure ..... so would you take one. ....My answer was yes.

[kristina]

Many thanks for your kind replies cassandra, Charlie B53, Simon Dog and VT Big Rig.
Your kind understanding assists me in my approach towards the transplant waiting-list ...
Many thanks again from Kristina.