Does blood type effect the "Perfect Match" for Kidney transplants?

Question

I am A- bloodtype, and my husband is O. I know we cannot give eachother blood. But does this effect Kidney transplants? All I could find was that 6 antigens have to match. But I dont know if that has any wage on the blood type or not.

(It would be me giving to him).

Thank you.

Answer 1

The only people who can give each other organs without any rejection are identical twins.

The 6 antigens you are talking about involve the MHC complex antigen. These antigens are found on pretty much all cells in your body, including your kidneys. Every person in the world has a unique set of these 6 antigens.

Everyone will reject foreign cells coming from another person because the foreign cells contain 6 different MHC antigens to the ones that they have. Their bodies will make antibodies that attack the MHC antigens on the foreign cells, eventually destroying the foreign organ.

Thus, you cannot be a perfect match for your husband. Not even his parents, nor anyone else. The only person that can be a perfect match for your husband is an identical twin. If a closely related family member gives your husband an organ, chances are the organ might last a while but even then it will eventually be rejected. To delay organ rejection for as long as possible, your husband would need to take medication to control his immune system.

By the way, your blood type does not matter so much here. Blood contains the ABO antigens, while the antigens that are important for organ rejection are the MHC antigens. Thus your blood type is not as important when considering organ compatibility.

Answer 2

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