| Any kidney can be transplanted to ‘O’ group; Hope for patients

London: There is hope for those waiting for organ transplant surgeries because of their blood group. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a technology to transplant the kidneys of people of any blood group into O group.

Until now, for organ transplant surgery to be successful, the blood types of the recipient and the donor had to be the same. Blood type markers in the kidney are removed using a special tissue to convert to group O.

The antigens responsible for the blood groups were removed when special tissue was passed into the kidney cells. Serena McLellan, a member of the research team, said that they are trying to make this a reality in fully grown kidneys. Kidney cells with blood type B could be transferred to type O within hours. Prof. Research led by Mike Nicholson is leading to success. Apart from kidneys, research is underway to transplant other organs beyond blood group.