Blood Group
Options if you do not have a Blood Group matched Family Donor
You have three options:
- SWAP LIVER TRANSPLANT
- ABO INCOMPATIBLE LIVER TRANSPLANT
- CADAVERIC (DECEASED DONOR) LIVER TRANSPLANT
Swap Liver Transplant Program at Medanta
- In this procedure, we help in legal exchange of donor livers between two families – both with patients who cannot undergo transplant with livers from their own donors. For eg., family 1 has recipient blood group A and donor blood group B. Family 2 has recipient with group B and donor with group A (Rh + or -ve does not matter). All the 4 (2 recipients and 2 donors) of these two families are operated at the same time and the donor livers are exchanged.
- Hence swap transplant is generally possible in 2 situations – if the recipient blood group is A and donor’s is B, or if the recipient blood group is B and donor’s is A.
- Swap is also sometimes possible if the liver from the family donor is too small or too big (volume exchange).
- India’s largest and the among the world’s largest swap liver transplant experience
- India’s largest swap liver transplant patients’ database
- 30 successful swap transplants
- Speak to our swap liver transplant recipients and donors
ABO incompatible Liver Transplant Program at Medanta
- Dr Soin’s team became the first in India and the fourth in the world to successfully perform ABO incompatible transplants in 2012.
- Suitable patients are those who do not have blood group matching family donors (4 combinations): Recipient A, and donor B; recipient B and donor A; recipient O and donor A; recipient O and donor B.
- Special medicines and procedures done to make the body accept blood group incompatible donor liver
- Speak to our patients who had successful ABO incompatible liver transplants
Cadaveric (Deceased Donor) Liver Transplantation at Medanta
- Dr. Soin and his team now operate in 4 centres (Medanta-The Medicity Hospital – Gurgaon, Sterling Hospital – Ahmedabad, Jupiter Hospital – Mumbai and ColumbiaAsia Hospital – Bangalore) where cadaveric transplants are possible
- We will facilitate your getting on the waiting list at all our centres
- Speak to our patients who have had cadaveric liver transplants
FAQ’s
1. What happens if there is a mismatch in blood groups during a liver transplant?
In liver transplantation, a blood group mismatch between the donor and recipient can cause significant complications. The recipient’s immune system may recognize the transplanted liver as foreign, triggering an immune response that can lead to acute rejection or graft failure—both potentially life-threatening outcomes. Blood type incompatibility increases the risk of hyperacute rejection, where the body’s immune system attacks the new liver immediately, and this can severely compromise the function of the transplanted organ.
Despite immunosuppressive therapy, the chance of complications such as vascular thrombosis (blood clot formation in the liver’s blood vessels) is higher in blood type mismatched transplants. Vascular thrombosis can impair the liver’s blood supply, leading to graft dysfunction or failure. For these reasons, matching blood groups between the donor and recipient is a key factor in ensuring transplant success. Adequate pre-transplant blood group testing is critical to minimize the risk of rejection and maximize the chances of long-term graft survival.
2. Can a liver transplant be performed if the blood groups do not match?
While liver transplants are most successful when donor and recipient blood groups are compatible (ABO-compatible), ABO-incompatible liver transplants can still be performed in rare and urgent cases. These typically occur when the recipient’s condition is critical, and no ABO-compatible donor is available. ABO-incompatible transplants are more complex and carry a higher risk of rejection and complications, even with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy.
In such cases, special medical protocols are employed to reduce the immune response and minimize the risk of rejection. These interventions include plasmapheresis (to remove anti-donor antibodies from the blood), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, and more intense immunosuppressive drug regimens. Some studies show that ABO-incompatible liver transplants, especially in pediatric patients, may have higher success rates due to the liver’s regenerative capacity and the immature immune system in younger patients. Nevertheless, wherever possible, matching blood types between donor and recipient remains the gold standard for optimizing outcomes.
3. How is blood group compatibility tested before a liver transplant?
Blood group compatibility is assessed using a straightforward blood test called ABO typing. This test checks for the presence of A or B antigens on the surface of the recipient’s and donor’s red blood cells, classifying the blood as A, B, AB, or O. Additionally, the Rh factor (positive or negative) is also tested to further categorize the blood type.
In liver transplantation, the donor and recipient’s blood types are carefully matched to reduce the risk of rejection. Blood group O individuals are considered universal donors, meaning their liver can be transplanted into recipients of any blood type (A, B, AB, or O). However, individuals with blood type AB are considered universal recipients because they can receive a liver from any blood group. Testing for ABO compatibility ensures the best possible outcome for the transplant.
4. Are there any special considerations for blood group O in liver transplants?
Yes, blood group O plays a unique role in liver transplants. Since individuals with blood group O are universal donors, they can donate their liver to recipients of any blood group. However, patients with blood group O can only receive a liver from a donor with the same blood group (O). As a result, patients with blood group O tend to have fewer compatible donor options and may experience longer waiting times for a suitable liver.
Careful consideration is needed when selecting a donor for a patient with blood group O to avoid complications associated with mismatched transplants, such as rejection or graft failure.
5. What if I have a rare blood group?
Having a rare blood group, such as AB-negative or other Rh-negative types, can make it more challenging to find a suitable liver donor. The smaller pool of compatible donors can result in longer wait times for patients with rare blood types. While ABO-incompatible transplants are possible under urgent circumstances, they carry a higher risk of rejection and other complications.
Living-donor liver transplantation, where a friend or relative with a compatible blood type donates a portion of their liver, can be a valuable option for patients with rare blood groups. Moreover, some transplant centers use advanced desensitization techniques and immunological therapies to manage blood group incompatibilities, offering hope to patients with uncommon blood types.
6. Will my blood group change after a liver transplant?
No, the recipient’s blood group does not change after a liver transplant. Even if the donor’s liver has a different blood type, the recipient will retain their original blood group. This is because blood cells are produced by the bone marrow, not the liver. The recipient’s bone marrow continues to produce red blood cells with the same ABO blood group as before the transplant.
The liver’s role is primarily in blood filtration and detoxification, and it does not influence the recipient’s blood type. Therefore, post-transplant, the recipient will maintain the same blood group they had prior to the surgery.
