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Kidney Transplantation
The kidneys filter blood, remove waste products, make hormones, and produce urine. The 2 kidneys drain via the ureters into the bladder where the urine is stored. In persons with end-stage renal (kidney) disease (also called chronic renal failure), renal dialysis (use of a machine to substitute for the kidney in removing waste products) or kidney transplantation are the treatment options. A successfully transplanted kidney works as a person's own healthy kidney would. This means that the individual would no longer need dialysis and may reduce or eliminate need for some medications. Not every person with renal failure is a candidate for a kidney transplant, so treatment options should be discussed with your doctor. The April 22/29, 2009, issue of JAMA includes an article about access to kidney transplantation among remote and rural-dwelling patients in the United States. This Patient Page is based on one published in the December 7, 2005, issue of JAMA.
DONOR ORGANS
Donated kidneys can come from deceased donors (individuals who have recently died and donated organs) or from living donors. Extensive testing takes place to make sure that donor organs are biologically compatible with the recipient. Living donors undergo an operation to remove one of their kidneys, which is then immediately transplanted into the recipient. Because of the large number of persons with renal failure and the limited number of donor organs available, wait times for deceased donor kidney transplantation can be long. Having a compatible living donor may reduce the waiting time and may result in a better match and less chance of rejection.
REJECTION OF DONATED ORGANS
Because the body's immune system will try to reject (fight against) any foreign tissue, medications must be taken by a patient who has had any kind of transplant (except in some cases where the donor is an identical twin). These are called immunosuppressive medications and are taken as long as the donated organ continues to function. There are several types of immunosuppressive medications. An individual usually takes multiple medications to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Because the immune system is suppressed, persons who have a transplanted kidney or other organ are at an increased risk for a variety of infectious diseases and certain types of cancer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
INFORM YOURSELF
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. A Patient Page on kidney failure was published in the February 11, 2009, issue; and one on organ donation was published in the January 9/16, 2008, issue.
Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, American Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 312/464-0776.
TOPIC: KIDNEY DISEASE
Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer;
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2009;301(16):1730.
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RELATED ARTICLE
Access to Kidney Transplantation Among Remote- and Rural-Dwelling Patients With Kidney Failure in the United States
Marcello Tonelli, Scott Klarenbach, Caren Rose, Natasha Wiebe, and John Gill
JAMA. 2009;301(16):1681-1690.
ABSTRACT
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