Final answer:
Signs of kidney rejection in a transplant patient include decreased urine output, pain at the transplant site, fever, and increased blood creatinine levels. Early detection and treatment are crucial. The immune response is typically due to genetic differences between donor and recipient tissues, necessitating the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse caring for an adolescent who has received a kidney transplant should be vigilant for signs of organ rejection. Such indications typically include a decrease in urine output, pain at the site of the transplant, fever, and elevated creatinine levels in the blood. It is critical to identify these signs early as prompt intervention can improve the transplant survival rate. The nurse should also understand that the risk of rejection is related to the genetic differences between the donor's and the recipient's tissues, especially in the MHC (HLA) genes that play a significant role in how the immune system recognizes foreign cells.
The recipient's immune system can recognize proteins on the transplanted organ as foreign, which leads to an attack on these proteins and potential rejection of the organ. Therefore, immunosuppressive therapy is often necessary to prevent the immune system from attacking the transplant.
In cases where there are signs of acute kidney injury, it is important to differentiate between organ rejection and other potential causes of the symptoms. Monitoring the patient's condition closely and performing regular tests to assess the function of the transplant are significant parts of post-transplant care.