Improved OutcomesService Delivery Changes Kidney transplant patients to get blood matched for white blood cells to prevent transplant rejection

Around two of every five kidney transplant patients need blood transfusions. Transfusions save lives but are associated with increased risk of losing the transplant due to human leucocyte tissue antigen (HLA) antibodies which can harm the transplanted kidney because they consider it to be ‘foreign’.

Research showed matched blood transfusions could help prevent antibodies developing and reduce the risk of rejection.  People from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be at risk, as UK blood and transplant donors are predominantly of white ethnicity, and HLA antigens are genetically inherited

Kidney transplant patients at Hammersmith Hospital now have access to blood transfusions matched not just for red blood cells but also for the donor’s tissue type, as part of a new pilot programme to help reduce the formation of immune system antibodies and transplant rejection. There are plans for a national roll out of the programme, which will be informed by the results of the pilot programme at Hammersmith.