ABO Group: Phrase used to define blood types. The types are A, B, AB, and O.
Antibody: Substance formed by the body's immune system as a reaction to foreign antigens or proteins.
Antibody Screen: Blood test which determines the percent of antibodies formed by a person's immune system against antigens which are foreign to that person. People with 30% or higher levels are considered to have a high antibody level, also called a high antibody titer or a high panel reactive antibody (PRA).
Antigen: Substance on the surface of body cells which is specific and unique to that individual.
Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (ATG): A commercially prepared medication used immediately post-transplant while waiting for the kidney to work or to treat acute rejection. Horse sera is used to make this medication.
Biopsy: Taking a sample of the kidney tissue for the purpose of examining the kidney cells under a microscope.
Blood Type: See ABO Group.
Cadaver Kidney Transplant: Transplant in which the kidney has been donated from someone unrelated and unknown to the recipient whose family gave consent for organ donation at the time of death.
CellCept: An immunosuppressant approved by the FDA in 1995. Its generic name is mycophenalate mopatil.
Creatinine: By-product of muscle activity normally removed from the blood by the kidneys. Normal blood level is 0.6-1.4 mgm%. When blood level is above normal, this indicates that kidney function is not normal. It is one of the main laboratory tests followed after a transplant to see how well the kidney is working.
Crossmatch: A blood test performed using blood from the kidney donor and the potential recipient to determine if the recipient has antibodies against the donor's antigens. If the crossmatch is positive, this means that antibodies are present in the recipient against that particular kidney's antigens, and the transplant is cancelled. When the crossmatch is negative... When done just before a cadaver transplant, it is called a final crossmatch.
Cyclosporine A: One of the immunosuppressant medications given after a transplant to prevent rejection. The trade name is Sandimmune or Neoral, but it is also called CSA. It is given by mouth as a liquid or capsule. Doses range from 200mg to 1000mg and are monitored by CSA levels in the blood. Some patients take this medication twice a day.
DR Antigens: A specific group of antigens thought to be of importance when matching for a transplant. Identified by a blood test done at the same time HLA typing is done.
Donor: A person who gives a kidney for transplant. Can be either a cadaver donor or a living donor (related or unrelated).
FK506: An immunosuppressant that was approved by the FDA in early 1995. Its trade name is Prograf. This medication is given to prevent rejection. It is monitored by FK506 levels in the blood.
HLA Typing: A blood test which determines the antigens specific to an individual. Also know as tissue typing. The antigens important for transplant are known as A antigens, B antigens, and DR antigens.
Immune System: A body function which serves as a defense mechanism and protects the body by fighting against bacteria, viruses, or other foreign cells which enter the body. Causes antibodies to be produced.
Immunosuppressants: Medications which are given after a transplant in order to lessen the action of the immune system and help the body to accept and not to reject the kidney.
Imuran: One of the immunosuppressant medications given after a transplant to prevent rejection. The other name for it is azathioprine. It is taken by mouth as a pill.
Neoral: A new formulation of cyclosporine. It is more easily absorbed and therapeutic levels are reached more quickly.
OKT3: A medication used to treat acute rejection. Prepared from mouse serum.
Prednisone: One of the immunosuppressant medications given after a transplant to prevent rejection. Taken by mouth as a pill. One of the family of steroid medications. Trade name is Deltasone.
Rejection, Acute: The response of the body's immune system to a transplanted organ. Can be treated with medications. Immunosuppressant medications are given to lessen the immune response of the body to the organ. If the immune system is not suppressed enough, the organ will be rejected.
Rejection, Chronic: Slow, progressive deterioration of kidney function over several months to years. Cannot be treated with medication. Unknown reasons why this occurs.
Renal Scan: A procedure used to tell how well the transplanted kidney is working. It is done by the Nuclear Medicine Department. Special injections are given into a vein, then the flow of the injection through the kidney is followed by a scanner which translates the findings onto an X-ray film.
SoluMedrol: The intravenous form of steroid medication used to treat acute rejection or when the patient cannot take medicines by mouth.
Tissue Typing: See HLA Typing.
Transplant: The process of surgically placing a kidney from one person into another person.
Transplant Coordinator: A nurse who helps a potential transplant recipient to understand the transplant process. Also coordinates the transplant evaluation among the dialysis unit, transplant surgeon, and tissue typing laboratory. After a transplant, provides a communication link between the recipient and the transplant doctors for post-transplant care.
Ultrasound: A procedure used to tell how well the transplanted kidney is working. It is done in the X-Ray Department. A special instrument is moved along the skin over the kidney which "sees" the kidney. What the instrument "sees" is transferred to an X-ray film.
