Kaya had an organ transplant. She went to the doctor a week later, and the doctor did a blood test. Her lymphocyte count had increased. She went to the doctor a month later for the same test, and her lymphocyte count was higher. What is the best explanation as to why her lymphocyte levels were increasing?
Answer
A
Kaya was given antibiotics to prevent infections.
B
Kaya’s antigens were attacking the tissue.
C
Kaya was not tissue typed prior to her surgery, and her body is mounting an immune response.
D
Kaya took her immunosuppressant drugs weekly, which increased her lymphocyte count.
Explanation
After a transplant, the recipient’s immune system may recognize the donor tissue as foreign and activate lymphocytes to attack it. If Kaya was not tissue typed before surgery, the tissues may be poorly matched, making an immune response more likely; that explains the rising lymphocyte count. Antibiotics do not usually raise lymphocyte levels this way, and immunosuppressant drugs are meant to reduce immune activity.
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