Postive Crossmatch and Abo Incompatiable Transplantation

[mike22]

I have two willing donors who want to be tested. My evaluations isnt until November of this year.  I was wandering how does the transplant team decides whether to do a positive crossmatch or abo incompatiable transplantation.

[Beth36]

Well, my mom had a positive crossmatch transplant because she has high anitbodies and her wait for a cadaver kidney could have been longer.  She wasn't on dialysis yet and was afraid to start, so my husband, my youngest sister, and I all tested to be her donor.  They did the regular bloodwork initally but when we all got positive crossmatches, they ran another crossmatch to determine just how high the antibodies were when compared to our samples.  My youngest sister was the best match. Her antibodies weren't as high compared to my mom.  The levels also determined how much, if any plasmapheresis my mom would need.  She did undergo plasmapheresis before and after the transplant as well as infusions of a new drug they are testing and about to get FDA approval for.  She donated a kidney to my mom on June 13 of this year.  It's been almost 3 months and they are both doing well.  Good luck to you and I hope you get a healthy kidney!


Beth