- author, paul johnson
- role, bbc news
A woman who received a double hand transplant has been given pioneering NHS treatment to prevent her body from rejecting the transplant.
Tanya Shepherd, from Hull, became the first woman in the UK to have two hands replaced in 2018, only for her immune system to recognize the tissue as foreign.
She is currently undergoing a blood treatment called plasmapheresis, which removes antibodies to reduce the risk of rejection, in what is believed to be a world first.
Mr Shepherd, 48, said rejection was a “really scary risk” but he was “honored” to be the first to try the treatment.
Symptoms such as swelling, decreased dexterity, and changes in skin pigmentation are now beginning to improve.
Mr Shepherd underwent a hand and arm transplant at Leeds General Hospital in September 2018 after losing both hands and three-quarters of his left arm to sepsis.
However, she began suffering from symptoms of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). This is a type of rejection reaction in which the immune system recognizes tissue as foreign and produces antibodies to fight it.
She is being treated in Leeds by Therapeutic Apheresis Services, an NHS team that removes disease-causing harmful proteins, chemicals and cells from patients’ blood.
Shepard underwent 10 therapeutic plasmapheresis treatments, which remove plasma from the blood to quickly reduce or eliminate antibodies.
She will now begin immunosuppressive treatment to prevent her antibody levels from rising again.
Dr James Griffin, Medical Director of NHS Blood Transplant, said: “Our aim is to protect the transplant while other treatments work to stop Tanya’s immune system from producing antibodies, and we hope this treatment will alleviate Tanya’s symptoms. I’m glad it was helpful.”
Ms Shepherd said the treatment was made possible through “generous blood and plasma donors” and urged more people to sign up.
“I am forever grateful to those who have helped me along my journey and have already helped me,” she added.
Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “Organ rejection is a real risk for transplant recipients and can have devastating consequences.
“NHS Blood and Transplant continues to champion innovative treatments such as the world’s first plasma exchange, enabling people to access further treatment and live their fullest lives.”