Imagine that you or someone you know had to undergo a kidney transplant. It is a great second chance at life. But after the surgery is successful, there is another big challenge. That is, there is a possibility that our body will recognize this new kidney as a 'foreign object' and attack it. Today we are talking about a special medicine that can prevent that.
What is Antithymocyte Globulin?
Simply put, this is a drug that temporarily weakens the function of our body's immune system. You may have heard of it under the brand name `Thymoglobulin`.
Now you might be thinking, "Oh, why weaken the immune system?" That's a good question. The main job of our immune system is to protect us by fighting off disease-causing germs, bacteria, and viruses that enter our bodies. But unfortunately, even a newly transplanted kidney can be seen by this system as a 'foreign'. That is, as something foreign that doesn't belong in the body.
So, the immune system immediately tries to attack the new kidney and reject it. What this medicine does is to 'put it to sleep' or 'calm it down' a bit. This allows the new kidney to settle in the body without any problems and do its job. This is used to prevent rejection after a kidney transplant, as well as to treat rejection that has already occurred.
The most important things to tell the doctor before giving this medicine
Before starting this treatment, it is extremely important to inform your doctor about your complete health condition. Be sure to tell them about the following in particular:
- Current infections: Be sure to tell your doctor if you currently have any infections, such as a fever or cold. Especially if you have a viral infection like chickenpox or herpes.
- Vaccines: Tell us if you have recently received any vaccines or are scheduled to receive any soon.
- Allergies: If you have an allergy to this medicine called Antithymocyte Globulin, to substances obtained from rabbits (because rabbits are involved in the production of this medicine), to other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should tell your doctor before starting treatment.
How do you use this medicine?
This medicine is not something you can use at home. It is given in a hospital or clinic by a doctor or trained nursing staff through a saline solution (intravenous infusion).
If you are giving this medicine to young children, special care may be needed. Talk to your doctor about this.
Since this is given under medical supervision in a hospital, the risk of an overdose is very low. However, if you suspect that this has happened, you should inform the medical staff immediately. In an emergency, it is advisable to go to the nearest Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) or, if necessary, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
What are the things to be careful about when taking this medicine?
The medical staff will be constantly monitoring your condition throughout your treatment. You should also be aware of these issues.
Some people may experience infusion reactions while receiving this medicine. For example, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. To reduce this risk, your doctor may give you other medications (e.g. Panadol, Pyritan) before giving you this medicine. So follow your doctor's instructions exactly.
- Risk of infection: This medicine weakens your immune system, so you are more likely to get infections. If you develop symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, or sore throat, do not self-medicate and tell your doctor immediately. Try to stay away from people who are sick.
- Cancer risk: There is a very small risk of developing certain types of cancer when taking these immune-suppressing drugs long-term. Talk to your doctor about this openly and understand the risks.
- Bleeding risk: Be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth, as your gums may bleed more easily. If you are undergoing any dental treatment, tell your dentist that you are taking this medicine.
- Interaction with Vaccines: Vaccines may be less effective while taking this medicine. Live virus vaccines, in particular, should not be given with this medicine. If you need to get a vaccine, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. A different vaccination schedule may be needed.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can have some side effects. Some of them can be serious, while others are common.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor or hospital staff immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Infections | Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain when urinating. |
| Trouble breathing | Shortness of breath, feeling of tightness in the chest. |
| Unusual bleeding or bruising | Bruising of the skin, bleeding from the gums or nose. |
| Increase in blood pressure | Severe headache, dizziness, chest pain. |
| High potassium levels in the blood | Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Stomach pain | Stomach ache, discomfort. |
| Headache | Common headache. |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Pain at the injection site | Redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site. |
| Anxiety | Feeling restless. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Antithymocyte Globulin is a very important medication given after a kidney transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney.
- This temporarily weakens the body's immune system.
- This increases the risk of infection. If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, or chills, tell your doctor immediately.
- This medicine is given intravenously under medical supervision in a hospital.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking, allergies you have, and other medical conditions before prescribing the medication.
- If you have any questions or concerns, don't be afraid to ask the doctor or nursing staff. Your well-being is their responsibility.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න