GRAFT REJECTION Meaning and
Definition
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Graft rejection refers to the immune response mounted by the recipient's body against a transplanted organ, tissue, or cells (collectively known as graft) that are recognized as foreign. When an individual undergoes a transplantation procedure, such as a solid organ transplant (e.g., heart, kidney, liver) or a bone marrow transplant, the immune system's primary role is to protect the body by identifying and targeting foreign substances, including the graft.
Graft rejection occurs when the recipient's immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue as non-self and activates an immune response against it. This response can manifest in various ways, with different forms of graft rejection indicating varying severities. There are three main types of graft rejection: hyperacute rejection, acute rejection, and chronic rejection.
Hyperacute rejection typically occurs within minutes to hours after transplantation and is caused by pre-existing antibodies in the recipient's blood, leading to rapid and severe damage to the graft. Acute rejection develops over the first few weeks or months after transplantation and involves cellular and antibody-mediated immune responses. Chronic rejection is a long-term process that can take months to years, characterized by persistent inflammation that gradually impairs the function of the transplanted graft.
To prevent or manage graft rejection, individuals undergoing transplantation typically receive medications, called immunosuppressants, which aim to suppress the immune system's response against the graft while balancing the risks of infections and other side effects. Close monitoring of the recipient's immune system function and graft health through regular testing is crucial to detect and address any signs of graft rejection promptly.
Common Misspellings for GRAFT REJECTION
- fraft rejection
- vraft rejection
- braft rejection
- hraft rejection
- yraft rejection
- traft rejection
- geaft rejection
- gdaft rejection
- gfaft rejection
- gtaft rejection
- g5aft rejection
- g4aft rejection
- grzft rejection
- grsft rejection
- grwft rejection
- grqft rejection
- gradt rejection
- gract rejection
- gravt rejection
- gragt rejection
Etymology of GRAFT REJECTION
The etymology of the term "graft rejection" can be broken down into two parts: "graft" and "rejection".
The word "graft" originated from a Middle English term, "graften", which was derived from Old English "græft" meaning "to plant or transplant a shoot or scion of a plant onto another plant". The term "graft" gradually came to be used metaphorically in the medical context, referring to a surgical procedure where tissue, an organ, or cells are transplanted from one individual to another.
The word "rejection" originated from the Latin term "rejectio" meaning "to cast out" or "to throw back". The term "rejection" is often associated with a negative response or refusal of acceptance.
