"An 80-Year-Old Father With Type A Blood Donates Kidney to His Type O Son: The Outcome of a Father's Love"

High Risk of Rejection Due to Blood Type Incompatibility
Multidisciplinary Team Assembled and Precise Treatment Plan Developed

Generally, organ transplants are only possible when the donor and recipient have matching blood types. However, a case has been reported in China where an 80-year-old father successfully donated a kidney to his 48-year-old son despite having different blood types. On November 8 (local time), Chinese media outlet Xiaoxiang Morning News reported that the Organ Transplant Center at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University recently performed a successful kidney transplant from an 80-year-old father with a different blood type to his 48-year-old son, surnamed Zheng, who had been undergoing dialysis due to uremia.

A case has been reported where an 80-year-old father successfully donated a kidney to his 48-year-old son despite having different blood types. The medical staff at Xiangya Hospital Organ Transplant Center and the father and son. Photo by Xiaoning Morning News

Zheng had suffered from hypertensive nephropathy and uremia for a long time due to chronic high blood pressure, relying on dialysis for survival. Dialysis significantly restricted his daily life and ability to work, and a kidney transplant was his only hope for a cure. His father volunteered to donate his kidney, but there were significant challenges: the donor, at 80 years old, had blood type A, while the recipient, Zheng, had blood type O, increasing the risk of rejection. Furthermore, the father had a history of cervical spine injury and abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, categorizing him as a high-risk candidate for transplantation.

Nevertheless, motivated by the father's strong will to donate, the Xiangya Hospital Organ Transplant Center assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts (MDT) in organ transplantation, nephrology, anesthesia, cardiology, intensive care, transfusion medicine, and vascular surgery to develop a precise treatment plan. After thorough preparation, the surgery was carried out successfully, and both father and son are reportedly recovering well. Xiangya Hospital stated, "This surgery is a miracle created by medical challenge and paternal love," adding, "It has proven that even high-risk, blood type-incompatible kidney transplants in elderly patients can be performed safely and successfully through careful evaluation and personalized treatment."

Meanwhile, blood type is determined by the presence of sugar molecules called "antigens" on the surface of red blood cells. For example, if the A antigen is present, the blood type is A; if the B antigen is present, the blood type is B. Blood type AB has both antigens. If neither antigen is present, the blood type is O. The Asia Business Daily Database

Meanwhile, blood type is determined by the presence of sugar molecules called "antigens" on the surface of red blood cells. For example, if the A antigen is present, the blood type is A; if the B antigen is present, the blood type is B. Blood type AB has both antigens, while blood type O has neither. The A and B antigens can also be present on the surface of blood vessels in organs. In addition, plasma, which makes up blood, contains antibodies that recognize and attack these antigens. People with type A blood have anti-B antibodies, those with type B have anti-A antibodies. Individuals with type O have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, while those with type AB have no antibodies.

The problem arises when an organ from a donor with a different blood type is transplanted: the recipient's immune system antibodies recognize the organ as a foreign invader and initiate an immune rejection response. For example, if a recipient with blood type B receives an organ from a donor with blood type A, the anti-A antibodies in the recipient will identify the A antigens on the donor's red blood cells as foreign and destroy them, causing hemolysis.

However, since type O blood lacks antigens, it does not trigger an antigen-antibody reaction, making it the only ABO blood type that can be transplanted into individuals with other blood types. This is also why type O blood, known as "universal blood," is used for emergency transfusions. On the other hand, individuals with type O blood cannot receive organs from either type A or B donors and must receive organs only from type O donors. As a result, people with type O blood often have to wait longer to find a suitable organ.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.