Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Organ Transplantation

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Organ Transplantation 1. Donor vs. Recipient One of the fundamental concepts in organ transplantation is the differentiation between the donor and the recipient. The donor is the individual who generously provides the organ, either through a living donation or posthumously. On the other hand, the recipient is the person who receives the organ. While it may seem obvious, these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion in discussions and medical records. 2. Graft vs. Host When a transplanted organ is introduced into a recipient's body, it's referred to as a graft. Now, here's where the confusion arises. In some cases, the recipient's immune system may recognize the graft as foreign and mount an immune response. This is known as graft rejection. On the other hand, when the transplanted organ's immune cells attack the recipient's body, it's called a host response. So, remember, graft rejection is the recipient's immune system rejecting the organ, while a host response is the transplanted organ attacking the recipient's body. 3. Immunosuppressant vs. Immune Stimulant To prevent graft rejection, patients undergoing organ transplantation are often prescribed immunosuppressant medications. These drugs work by suppressing the recipient's immune system, reducing the chances of rejection.