Transplanted Liver Rejection Treatment

During the first six months that follow a liver transplant, some patients experience organ rejection, a condition that occurs when your immune system identifies your new liver as a foreign invader and begins to attack the organ. Although liver rejection is life-threatening, it is possible to treat the condition.

Identification

• To treat liver rejection, doctors use a variety of drugs to slow down or inhibit your immune system in order to stop its attack upon your liver.

Types of Medications

• Medications used to treat transplanted liver rejection include corticosteroids like prednisone and methylprednisolone; monoclonal antibodies like muromonab-CD3, basiliximab and daclizumab; and antiproliferative agents like mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine and sirolimus, according to Brown University.

Features

• In some cases, transplanted liver rejection requires large, intravenous doses of medications, which means you will stay in the hospital, explains the American Society of Transplantation. Other times, your doctor may prescribe oral medications and allow you to stay home.

Time Frame

• Once you experience rejection after liver transplant surgery, you will likely need to continue taking some type of drug for immune system suppression for the rest of your life in order to prevent rejection from occurring again, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Unfortunately, this may put you at an increased risk for developing bacterial, viral or fungal infections as side effects, cautions Brown University.

Considerations

• Treatment for transplanted liver rejection is most effective when you receive prompt medical attention, explains the American Society of Transplantation. Stay alert for signs of transplanted liver rejection, such as yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark brown urine, pale stools, weight gain, sudden tiredness and swelling of your legs or stomach.