If the blood groups of the donor and recipient don't match, it is possible to transplant patients in this situation using specialized techniques:
- The procedure starts with simple blood tests to assess blood group and antibody levels.
- A drug called Rituximab to help remove antibody-producing cells.
- Antibodies from the blood are removed by a procedure similar to dialysis, called immunoadsorption.
- Once the antibody levels are lowered sufficiently, transplantation can take place.
- After transplantation, the physicians continue to monitor the antibodies, but further treatments are usually not necessary.
