Arm skin patch system could warn of organ rejection

Some people having a lung transplant on the NHS will receive a skin patch graft from their donor too as a way of spotting organ rejection sooner.

Rejection could show as a rash on the donated skin patch, say experts, allowing early treatment to stop problems escalating.

The trial, by University of Oxford and NHS Blood and Transplant, will enrol 152 patients in England.

It follows earlier success with some other transplant patients, including Adam Alderson, 44, who received a donor skin graft on his abdomen in 2015 when he had eight organs replaced – including a pancreas, stomach and spleen – after treatment for a rare cancer.

He says the graft has already helped guide his treatment a few times to prevent his body rejecting his many new organs.

He said: "It's a really comforting thing to have - I feel safer knowing that I have a tool available to tell if something is going wrong before it becomes too serious. It's almost like an oil warning light on your car. Plus, having that visible reminder of how lucky I am is really special."

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Source: BBC News, 16 April 2024