Perhaps less well-known than the waiting period for transplantation is the stress associated with the post-transplant phase. In this delicate phase, the recipient is constantly at risk of infection caused by the chronic use of immunosuppressants that reduces the ability of the immune system to fight infections. We continue the awareness campaign sharing for the rest of the week, major risks of virus infections for the post-transplant phase.
Life expectancies for solid organ recipients and graft survival rates for these patients have improved over the years thanks to advanced immunosuppressive therapies, but the chronic use of immunosuppressants reduces the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Therefore, recipients are exposed to a higher risk of developing them and becomes one of the main causes of morbidity for them.
We want to dedicate the Organ Donation Awareness Week (from 19th to 25th September 2022) to bring to light some of the more critical viral risks for post-transplant recipients.