Four hard-to-match Saskatchewan patients with immune systems that were likely to reject a donated kidney have received transplants thanks to the Highly Sensitized Patient (HSP) program officially launched last week.
Canadian Blood Services, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and organ donation and transplantation programs around the country, now takes advantage of high-quality laboratories to allocate kidneys with an accuracy and efficiency that is unparalleled.
For some Saskatchewan patients, this program greatly increases their likelihood of receiving a kidney transplant,” Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “It has already saved and improved lives and continues to bring hope to 16 Saskatchewan patients registered with the program who otherwise would be unlikely to find a match for a transplant.”
“The launch of the HSP program allows us to provide improved access to lifesaving transplants to Canadians waiting for kidney transplantation,” Canadian Blood Services Board Chair Leah Hollins said. “When Canadian Blood Services was mandated to develop national services for organ and tissue donation and transplantation in 2008, Canada was one of the only developed nations without a national, co-ordinated system. We have come a long way and I would like to thank all provincial and territorial governments for the commitment they have demonstrated during the development of the HSP program.”
The launch of the HSP program is an important milestone in improving access to transplants for patients who are difficult to match with a donor kidney due to their high levels of sensitizing antibodies. These patients, known as ‘highly sensitized’, have developed antibodies that would attack a transplanted kidney unless the organ is very precisely matched.
Until recently, such patients only had access to the limited number of donors in their region. These hard-to-match patients represent approximately 20 per cent of provincial waitlists, yet receive less than one per cent of available organs.
By increasing access to a larger donor pool, the HSP program promises to improve the chances of a kidney transplant for this highly disadvantaged patient group. The HSP program first rolled out to Saskatchewan and Manitoba in October 2013 and, by November 2014, all provinces and territories had joined. Although it is still in its infancy, the HSP program has already yielded success stories. Since its establishment, the national initiative has facilitated 111 kidney transplants in Canada, including four in Saskatchewan.
With offices in Saskatoon and Regina, the program co-ordinates organ donation and transplantation in the province.
Transplantation of kidneys and corneas takes place in Saskatchewan.
The program provides support and co-ordination for patients needing to go out of province for heart, lung, liver or pancreas transplants. The program also manages organ and tissue donations and maintains the Tissue and Bone Bank and the Lions Eye Bank of Saskatchewan. Visit the website at www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/transplant.
