Blood group compatibility is a critical factor in living donor liver transplantation, a procedure where a portion of a healthy liver is transplanted from a living donor to a recipient with liver failure or disease. The success of this life-saving procedure heavily depends on matching the blood group of the donor with that of the recipient. Human blood is classified into different groups based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells.
The most common classification system is the ABO system, which includes four main blood groups: A, B, AB, and O. Additionally, each blood group can be either Rh-positive or Rh-negative. In liver transplantation, blood group compatibility is crucial to prevent rejection and ensure the longevity of the transplanted organ. Ideally, the donor and recipient should have compatible blood types to minimize the risk of rejection and complications post-transplantation. For example, individuals with blood group O are considered universal donors because they can donate to recipients with any blood type. Conversely, individuals with blood group AB are universal recipients because they can receive organs from donors with any blood type. A common misconception in LDLT is regarding Rhesus factor incompatibility, however, it is not a deciding factor in liver transplantation process.
Living donor liver transplantation offers several advantages over deceased donor transplantation, including shorter waiting times and better organ quality. However, it also presents unique challenges, particularly regarding blood group compatibility. Since the donor and recipient are usually known to each other, there may be emotional and psychological pressures to proceed with the transplantation even if the blood groups are not compatible. In such cases, medical teams may explore alternative strategies, such as Swap Liver Transplantation or ABO incompatible (ABOi) Liver Transplantation, to overcome blood group incompatibility.
Thus, blood group compatibility is a critical consideration in living donor liver transplantation to minimize the risk of rejection and optimize the chances of a successful outcome. Close collaboration between medical teams, donors, and recipients is essential to ensure that the transplantation process is safe and effective.
