Kidney Transplant Candidates
Kidney Transplant Candidates
Solid organ kidney transplant involves surgically implanting a new kidney that has been donated by a deceased or a living donor. Typically, your kidneys are left in place. Kidney transplantation may be a treatment option for patients whose kidneys have permanently failed due to chronic end-stage renal disease caused by:
- Autoimmune disease: Your body's immune system protects you from disease and infection. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Autoimmune diseases can affect many parts of the body.
- Congenital abnormalities: A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth defects happen during the first three months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.
A birth defect may affect how the body looks, works or both. Some birth defects like cleft lip or neural tube defects are structural problems that can be easy to see. To find others, like heart defects, doctors use special tests. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe.
Your overall health, not your age, is the most important factor in determining if you are a suitable organ recipient. Screenings before transplant ensure that you are in good medical and psychological health and that you have the motivation and support to comply with treatment plans. People who generally are not candidates include those with metastatic cancer, active drug or alcohol abuse, active infection or severe medical problems.
