Overview of Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplantation remains the best form of renal replacement therapy providing better quality of life and  survival compared to dialysis.  Live related donor transplant still remains the solution of choice in End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients with the promise of deceased donor (cadaver donor) transplantation still not fulfilling its promised growth.

Patients whose kidneys have completely failed and no recovery is expected at all ( i.e. Patients with ESKD) have kidney transplant as an option. The other option is to stay on dialysis life-long. These patients are anyways started on dialysis till the transplant workup is done.

However, Kidney transplant can also be done prior to dialysis requirement and is called pre-emptive kidney transplant. Dialysis is no longer required after a successful kidney transplant.

A medically fit recipient, a blood group compatible donor, a nephrologist experienced in handling kidney transplant patients, a urosurgeon experienced in performing transplant surgery and most importantly, a multi-specialty hospital recognized for performing kidney transplants.

As per the existing Human Organ Transplant Act  1994, any of the first degree relatives of the recipient     ( parents, siblings, children, grand-parents ) or the spouse can be an organ donor  provided they are blood group compatible.

Anyone apart from the above relatives are considered as ‘unrelated’ by law.

Blood group [ABO] compatibility is the same as that in relation to blood transfusion except that the Rh compatibility is not required for kidney transplant. Blood group ‘AB’ is a universal recipient while ‘O’ is a universal donor.

Following is a list of conditions which preclude kidney donation.

• Age <18 or >65 years
• Morbid Obesity
• Mild or easily treated hypertension
• Borderline urinary abnormalities

To read more - visit www.kidneyadvice.net