Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Blood-Cell Mix Could Help in Transplants

Combining recipient, donor blood can halt rejection process

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 7, 2008 2:57 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Scientists have found a technique that could eliminate the need for transplant patients to endure a regimen of powerful and side-effect-inducing anti-rejection drugs, the BBC reports. By mixing the patient's infection-fighting white blood cells with modified cells from the organ donor, the rejection process can be halted.

"It could eventually offer patients who have had transplant surgery a much higher quality of life, free from complex drug regimes," one researcher said. The development is in early stages, but trials involving 17 patients were promising. Ten were able to gradually stop their drug routine, and six others were able to rely on one low dose of a particular drug.

Transplant patients face a high, and long-term, risk that their bodies will reject donated parts.
Transplant patients face a high, and long-term, risk that their bodies will reject donated parts.   (AP Photo)
Undated picture provided by the Munich hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar shows the new arms of a farmer who lost his both arms in an accident six years ago.
Undated picture provided by the Munich hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar shows the new arms of a farmer who lost his both arms in an accident six years ago.   (AP Photo)
It could eventually offer patients who have had transplant surgery a much higher quality of life, free from complex drug regimes, a doctor said.
"It could eventually offer patients who have had transplant surgery a much higher quality of life, free from complex drug regimes," a doctor said.   (AP Photo)
Researchers believe combining infection-fighting blood cells from transplant donors and recipients could end the need for complex anti-rejection drug regimens%u2014which sometimes don't work.
Researchers believe combining infection-fighting blood cells from transplant donors and recipients could end the need for complex anti-rejection drug regimens%u2014which sometimes don't work.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

The study
Wiley InterScience

 
medicine • organ donor • transplant • drug cocktail • white blood cells

More Newser Stories

Boston Hospital Performs US' 1st Full Face Transplant

Donating a Kidney Won't Shorten Your Life

Docs Pull Off 6-Kidney Swap

Tragic Bond Links Heart Donor, Recipient

Kidney Swap Might Abate Organ Shortage
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne