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The NHS is introducing a "double matching" blood process for kidney transplant patients to help ensure donated organs are less likely to be rejected.<\/p>\n
In addition to ensuring blood types match, scientists will now align white blood cells as closely as possible.<\/p>\n
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) stated that the initiative could potentially prevent 100 kidney transplants from being rejected each year.<\/p>\n
Health leaders also hope the move will decrease the number of individuals waiting years for an organ, with some patients currently remaining on the waiting list for decades.<\/p>\n
Health service officials are rolling out the scheme nationwide for all kidney transplant patients following a successful pilot at London's Hammersmith Hospital and the Royal Free.<\/p>\n
Approximately two in every five kidney transplant recipients require blood transfusions either before or after their operation. After a transfusion, some individuals produce antibodies; if these antibodies target the donated kidney, the likelihood of organ rejection increases.<\/p>\n
Her own kidneys were removed due to a Wilms tumour, a type of childhood kidney cancer.<\/p>\n
She had transplants from deceased donors in 1994 and 1997, which were then rejected. She had a kidney from her father in 2004, which is still functioning well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had more than 10 blood transfusions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatching the blood for white blood cells will be extremely helpful because antibodies are always a worry. If I need blood, I am scared I will get them. If that risk can be alleviated it will be a massive relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is very much a risk kidney patients worry about. When I get my bloods done, I always want to know there\u2019s no evidence of new antibodies. Antibodies and rejection are always in the back of our minds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fiona Loud, policy director for Kidney Care UK, said: \u201cThe waiting list is sadly at an all time high, so where there are barriers like over-sensitisation, we very much welcome the science that could now make it possible to avoid an immune response which makes it more difficult to achieve or retain a successful kidney transplant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis news is reassuring to kidney patients, who frequently need blood transfusions, and women with kidney disease who want to have children.\u201d<\/p>\n
In June, there were 7,304 people waiting for a kidney transplant or a combined kidney and pancreas transplant, according to NHSBT figures.<\/p>\n