Are the organs of a person with ataxia suitable to be donated and used after death? I don’t mean for research.

[klazien]

[Litty]

Very good question. I have no idea. We need Harriet again on this one : )

[jurgen]

I don´t want any other person suffer with my rotten

SCA-infected organs .

Regards

[brighouse in reply to jurgen]

My personal belief is that, as Ataxia is neurologically based, (i.e. the head) there is no reason why any useful part of your body cannot be transplanted. My personal wish is that my body be bequeathed to the Manchester Faculty of Science, where I feel it would help in the training of upcoming doctors of the future. Incidentally, I am in my 90th year with no other problem than wretched ATAXIA! I'm all there!!....Best wishes to anyone reading this.

[HarryB Administrator]

That is a very good question klazien and one that I am not entirely sure of the answer to.

My gut instinct would be 'yes, it is possible for someone with ataxia to donate their organs for reasons other than research but each case must be considered individually.'

Like donating blood, having ataxia per se does not in itself render your organs harmful at all for a potential recipient (the recipient would in no way be at risk of developing ataxia), but it might be that certain organs are not as efficient in their functioning rendering them unsuitable for donation. Your general health and any other medical conditions would of course also be taken into consideration.

That is a bit of a guess based on common sense. There is a Doctors Question and Answer session at the Ataxia UK Annual Conference in a few weeks at which there will be 2 doctors who specialise in ataxia. Would it be OK with you if i put your question to them to ensure that my gut instinct is accurate?

Harriet

[klazien]

It would be good if you could ask that question so please do and thank you. I will be able to read the answer in the Ataxia UK magazine if they print it.

[HarryB Administrator]

Thanks klazien. I hope the answer will be printed in the Ataxian but I will also post it on here as soon as I can after the conference.

Harriet

[HarryB Administrator]

Hello klazien

I have asked for your question to be asked at the Drs Q&A session at the conference and will let you know what the answer is. In the meantime Ataxia UK has released this publication which you might find helpful.

ataxia.org.uk/data/files/in...

Harriet

[HarryB Administrator]

Hi klazien

The answer to this question was:

If you have a confirmed genetic cause for your ataxia there should me no problem in donating your organs after death.

However if the cause of your ataxia is idiopathic or unknown the situation is slightly more complicated. There are some causes of ataxia where it might not be possible to donate your organs, for example if the cause is immune-mediated. The advice was to speak to your own neurologist about this as he/she may have been able to rule out those particular underlying causes. They would be in a much better position to answer this question accurately on an individual basis.

I hope this makes sense. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Harriet