Organ Transplant

What is an Organ Transplant

An organ transplant is a surgical operation in which a failing or injured organ in the body is removed and replaced with a healthy, functioning one. Heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis, injury and birth defects may cause organ failure.

Organs that can be transplanted include:

• Liver
• Kidney
• Pancreas
• Heart
• Lung
• Intestine
• Vascularized composite allografts (VCAs), such as face and hand transplantation

Organs provided for transplant are given by a person called a donor. Doctors must match donors to recipients to reduce the risk of transplant rejection.

What are the symptoms of Organ Transplant Rejection?

General signs of rejection may include:

• Pain at the site of the transplant
• Feeling unwell
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fever
• Weight changes
• Swelling
• Change in heart rate
• Urinating less often
   

What Causes Organ Transplant Rejection?

Rejection is when the organ recipient’s immune system recognizes the donor organ as foreign and attacks the transplanted organ. It often occurs when your immune system detects things like bacteria or a virus. Some degree of rejection occurs with every transplant, but how clinically significant the rejection depends on the individual.

What Treatment is used to Prevent Transplant Rejection?

The key in keeping these immune cells from attacking the new organ is to take immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications. These medications prevent rejection by slowing down or “suppressing” the immune system and typically must be taken for the lifetime of the transplanted infection.

How does Noble help me manage my Organ Transplant?

At Noble Health Services, we offer a variety of medications to help you treat your symptoms. We help you manage your condition through our Signature Care Program, which includes medication delivery, 24/7/365 on-call support, benefits and co-pay assistance and more. For more information on what Organ Transplant medications we offer, please view the organ transplant enrollment form. 

For more information about organ transplant, contact one of the resources listed below:

• National Foundation for Transplants
  Phone: 1-800-489-3863 
  transplants.org
• American Society of Transplantation
  Phone: 1-856-439-9986 
  myast.org
• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 
  Phone: 1-888-894-6361 
  unos.org or transplantliving.org