Do Identical twins need anti rejection drugs for organ transplants?

Hi Wilford,

Great question! The answer, unfortunately, is not exactly clear. As you suggest, organ rejection occurs because the host body interprets the donor organ as a "foreign object" and attacks it. In the case of twins, this risk is reduced but not removed. "Twinning" occurs when a fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos, and this can occur at varying times during development in utero. Despite being genetically similar, it is possible for twins to have differences in their organ make-up due to earlier twinning of the egg or from the effects of environmental factors on the body's development. So just because an organ is from an identical twin does not necessarily mean that it will be 100% the exact same at a molecular level.

The prognosis of a transplanted organ from a twin is generally very good. The first successful organ transplant - a kidney from an identical twin in the 1950's - succeeded without the use of anti-rejection drugs. But there still is some risk of organ rejection from a twin graft. In modern practice, it's not clear exactly what role anti-rejection medicine should play in identical twin transplants. The question is balancing the risk of organ rejection with the risks inherent to the anti-rejection medications, which can carry some serious side effects. The decision should be made with the guidance of a physician specializing in transplant medicine, who can take into account the exact circumstances of the individual case.

Anti Rejection Medications

Anti Rejection Drugs