Autoimmune disease - Tissue - deceased donors

Essential information

Obligatory

See: is there an entry for the condition?

Must not donate if:
The donor has needed treatment to suppress the condition in the last 12 months.

Discretionary

Eyes:

If no ocular involvement, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

If treated with immunoglobulin or plasma exchange or filtration:

• Immunosuppression
• Transfusion

Additional information

Treatment to suppress the condition may be with steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, antimetabolites, antibodies directed against parts of the immune system as well as other therapies. These will affect the donor's immune system. This may make the donor more susceptible to certain types of infection and also will make some infections more difficult to diagnose.

Autoimmune disease is caused by the body attacking itself. This is with antibodies that are in the fluid part of the blood (plasma), and with immune cells directly attacking target cells in the part(s) of the body affected.

Regulatory information

Part of this advice is a requirement of the EU Tissue and Cells Directive.

Reason for change:

A link to Immunosuppression has been added.

Version details:

TD-DSG Edition 203 Release 11 (06 December 2011)