The Renal Patient Support Group (RPSG)
National Transplant Week 07th – 13th September 2015)
Currently, only 50% of the population have talked about organ donation with their
family. But your family’s consent is needed in order for a donation to go ahead. It can
be difficult for them to make this decision, so letting them know now will make it
easier for them in the future. This week, whatever you’re up to, make time to talk
about organ donation. You can find out more about National Transplant Week
at https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/and join the conversation on social media with
the #sayidonate hashtag.
Primarily the work up of a prospective transplant for a recipient is via Immunologicalbased assays to determine antibodies via a recipients Human Leukocyte Antigen
(HLA) system. If a serum sample is tested against a panel of white cells from donors
with a range of different HLA types, it is possible to identify the specificity of the
antibodies from the reaction patterns with cells carrying different HLA types. It is
important for those from Black and Asian Minority Ethinicities (BAME) backgrounds
and wider society to understand and appreciate the different concepts of science
behind blood and organ donation if there is to be an increase donation, generally.
Sharing knowledge is key (Daily Telegraph, 2010, Jochmans et al. 2012, Jochmans
et al. 2010, Jochmans et al. 2011, et al. Montgomery 2012a, Montgomery et al. 2011,
Montgomery et al, 2012b, NHSBT Blood & Transplant Matters, 2012, NHSBT Blood &
Transplant Matters, 2013, Rosenblum et al. 2012, ‘My Kidney & Me’ 2012).
If healthcare services are to be effective and the blood/ organ donation supply and
demand issue to be thoroughly addressed (and of course blood/ organs to reach those
most in need), everyone needs to Take Ownership to ensure that communities are
properly represented; and that the members of these communities also can engage in
discussion allowing all to voice concerns and issues. There must be dialogue wherever
possible; any anxieties should be addressed and adequately alleviated, (taken from
Lord Mayor of Bristol's Blood and Organ Donation Campaign Champions/ Driver's
Report 2013-2014).
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References
Daily Telegraph, (2010). Altruistic Donation I Could Save a Life and that’s all
that that matters
(available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8147224/Altruistic-donation-I-couldsave-a-life-and-thats-all-that-matters.html) (accessed September 2015)
Jochmans, I., Darius, T., Kuypers, D., Monbaliu, D., Goffin, E., Mourad, M., Ledinh,
H., Weekers, L., Peeters, P., Randon, C., Bosmans, J.L., Roeyen, G., Abramowicz,
D., Hoang, A.D., De, P.L., Rahmel, A., Squifflet, J.P., & Pirenne, J. (2012). Kidney
donation after circulatory death in a country with a high number of brain dead
donors: 10-year experience in Belgium. Transpl.Int., 25, (8) 857-866
Jochmans, I., Moers, C., Smits, J.M., Leuvenink, H.G., Treckmann, J., Paul, A.,
Rahmel, A., Squifflet, J.P., van, H.E., Monbaliu, D., Ploeg, R.J., & Pirenne, J. (2010).
Machine perfusion versus cold storage for the preservation of kidneys donated after
cardiac death: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Ann.Surg., 252, (5) 756764
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Jochmans, I. & Pirenne, J. (2011). Graft quality assessment in kidney
transplantation: not an exact science yet! Curr.Opin.Organ Transplant., 16, (2) 174179
Montgomery, J.R., Berger, J.C., Warren, D.S., James, N.T., Montgomery, R.A., &
Segev, D.L. 2012a. Outcomes of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation in the
United States. Transplantation, 93, (6) 603-609
Montgomery, R.A., Lonze, B.E., King, K.E., Kraus, E.S., Kucirka, L.M., Locke, J.E.,
Warren, D.S., Simpkins, C.E., Dagher, N.N., Singer, A.L., Zachary, A.A., & Segev,
D.L. (2011). Desensitization in HLA-incompatible kidney recipients and survival.
N.Engl.J Med., 365, (4) 318-326
Montgomery, R.A., Warren, D.S., Segev, D.L., & Zachary, A.A. (2012b). HLA
incompatible renal transplantation. Curr.Opin.Organ Transplant., 17, (4) 386-392
‘My Kidney & Me’, Channel More 4’ (2012). (available at
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-kidney-and-me/4od) (accessed
September 2015)
NHSBT Blood & Transplant Matters, Issue 36 May (2012).
(available at http://www.blood.co.uk/pdf/publications/blood_matters_36.pdf)
(accessed September 2015)
NHSBT Blood & Transplant Matters, Issue 40 (2013)
(available at http://www.blood.co.uk/pdf/publications/blood_matters_40.pdf)
(accessed September 2015)
Rosenblum, A.M., Li, A.H., Roels, L., Stewart, B., Prakash, V., Beitel, J., Young, K.,
Shemie, S., Nickerson, P., & Garg, A.X. (2012). Worldwide variability in deceased
organ donation registries. Transpl.Int., 25, (8) 801-811
Shahid Muhammad
Co-founder and Chief in Research
The Renal Patient Support Group (RPSG)
A ‘place’ where awareness and research meet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RPSGroup/
BlogSpot: http://shahidrpsg.blogspot.co.uk/