Final answer:
Chronic rejection in organ transplants occurs when the recipient's immune system recognizes the incompatible organ as foreign and attacks it, leading to rejection. This response can be managed with immunosuppressive therapy, although the risk of rejection still exists. Genetic differences, especially within the MHC genes, play a significant role in the likelihood of rejection.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a clinic visit, a client with a kidney transplant asks what will happen if chronic rejection develops. Chronic rejection occurs when the recipient's immune system recognizes the proteins on the incompatible organ as foreign and attacks them. This immune response causes the organ to be rejected. Transplant recipients need to adhere to immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection, although even with good genetic matching, the likelihood of rejection still exists.
Rejection of transplanted organs is a complex process influenced by genetic differences, particularly within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. Transplantation recipients may require long-term immunosuppression, which may increase the risk of infections and cancer. Chronic rejection is usually a slow process but can result in the need for another transplant or increased dependence on dialysis and immunosuppressive medications to prolong the function of the transplant as much as possible.