Immunosuppressive therapy

We start with the first dose of an immunosuppressant a few hours before the operation. This is the start of lifelong immunosuppressive therapy for the patients. From now on, they will have to take medications regularly and constantly that weaken their own immune defences so that the transplanted organ is not rejected. This can impair the patients’ liver and kidney function.

In the beginning, a large number of medications have to be taken. The number and amount of the individual medications decrease later but at the start they cause problems for some patients. Sometimes there can be nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Especially in the first six months after the transplant, we can help patients with suitable stomach protection.

Because every immunosuppressive therapy increases the tendency to infection, clinically significant infections can occur more often in the first six to twelve months after a transplant. In children, the usual childhood illnesses are naturally important also. Appropriate immunisation status should be ensured but live vaccines are not recommended during immunosuppression.

Basically, all infections can follow a more severe course and involve the risk of rejection.