Medical Advances
Transplant Immunology Research
To prevent rejection of their new kidneys, kidney transplant recipients need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives. A handful of people out of the thousands who have undergone transplantation have been able to stop taking these drugs without losing their kidneys. Emory researchers studying these rare individuals have identified a pattern of genes turned on in their white blood cells, which may one day be used to identify other transplant recipients who could reduce or eliminate their immunosuppressive therapy without ill effect.
Recent clinical trials at Emory have also offered exciting results. An experimental immunosuppressive drug called belatacept can better preserve kidney function in kidney transplant recipients while preventing rejection when compared with the standard drug cyclosporine. This is the first time a new class of drugs has been developed for transplant since the 1980s, says Emory Transplant Center Director Christian Larsen, MD. Belatacept has the potential to improve and simplify the medication regimens of transplant recipients, not only for kidney transplant but potentially other types of organ transplants as well.
VIDEO: Dr. Christian Larsen discusses the experimental anti-rejection drug Belatacept
Paired Donor Exchange Program
A multi-patient organ swap, known as a paired donor exchange, can now save the lives of numerous people while matching each patient with the very best kidney for his or her blood profile. The Emory Transplant Center has recently opened its innovative Paired Donor Kidney Exchange Program, providing greater hope for patients in need of kidney transplants.
According to Kenneth Newell, MD, director of Emory's living donor program, a paired exchange donation allows healthy individuals to donate a kidney to a friend or loved one even if they have incompatible blood types. In paired donation, a donor and recipient are matched with another incompatible donor and recipient pair, and the kidneys are exchanged between the pairs.
