rejection numbers

[THW]

Hi All,

Anyone out there willing/able to explain what each of the (results with heart transplant biopsy) rejection codes/status numbers mean (i.e. 1a, 2a, etc.)? Or can anyone point me to a website that explains this? I realize that 0 means no rejection, and the higher you go, the more concerning, but can anyone give any details to each of the numbers and letters and what they mean exactly? I did a search and looked in the arhives here, as well as a google search, but wasn't able to come up with much.

Thanks for sharing.
Theresa

[Midge Rollins]

Theresa, you can search under Heart transplant cellular rejection. From personal experience I can tell you that 1 and 1 A are no big deal, 2 may mean a change in medicine, 3 and up means massive IV prednisone, or other anti rejection. My 3 was reversed 2 years ago. There is actually another rejection called Humoral that is more difficult to reverse permanently then cellular rejection it usually only occurs in women. Currently, the transplant physicians across the country are in the process of revising how they grade the rejections. Hope this helps some.

[THW]

Thanks Midge, Just trying to learn more. I did look up "heart transplant cellular rejection" but still couldn't find much of a detailed explanation about what the numbers really mean, although I did learn lots of other stuff about transplants. Thanks for your help.
Theresa