What is a kidney transplant?
A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person into the body of another person who has little or no kidney function.
A kidney can be donated in 2 ways:
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Live - when a kidney is obtained from a living friend/relative/stranger
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Deceased - when a kidney is obtained from someone who has very recently passed away
How do I know if I'm suitable for a transplant?
Not everyone is suitable for a kidney transplant. Some factors that may affect your eligibility include:
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Having a BMI of 35 or higher
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Being a smoker
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Having had cancer within the last 5 years
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Experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the past year
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Difficulty following medications or attending appointments
If you’d like to find out whether a transplant might be an option for you, please talk with your kidney doctor at your next clinic appointment.
I am suitable for a transplant - what happens next?
Once kidney function is below 17%, you will be referred to the transplant assessment clinic.
You will need to have an ECG, a heart ECHO, Hepatitis B and C & HIV blood tests and tissue typing blood tests done beforehand.
You will attend an appointment for assessment with the Addenbrookes team at the Norfolk and Norwich Kidney Centre – here you will be told whether you are/are not suitable for a transplant.
If you feel that you may require some extra support with regard to the psychological aspects of transplantation, we do have counselling services that you can access.
Please remember: A transplant is not guaranteed before you need to start treatment, so it’s important to think about which type of dialysis might be best for you if your kidney function continues to decline.
Who can donate?
Living donors will only be considered if they:
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Have never had cancer, a heart attack or a stroke
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Are not diabetic
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Do not smoke
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Have a BMI of 30 or less
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Do not take more than two different blood pressure tablets
Live donors must contact the Transplant Co-ordinator directly to express their interest in donating (contact details at the bottom of the page).
What if I do not have a living donor?
If you do not have a living donor, or a suitable match, we will aim to get you activiated on the national transplant list before you need to start dialysis.
Whilst you are active on the list, you will need to be contactable 24/7 as you could receive a kidney from a deceased donor at any time.
What are the risks/benefits?
Risks:
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Having a transplant does not cure the underlying cause of kidney disease
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A kidney transplant is a major operation and comes with risks, such as bleeding and the possibility that the transplanted kidney might not work or might be rejected
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Longevity of kidney - depending on your age you might need more than one transplant in your lifetime
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Anti-rejection medications increase the risks of skin cancer (you will have annual surveillance for this), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and infections
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Certain conditions that cause kidney disease (such as IgA nephropathy or FSGS) can infiltrate the new kidney and effect its function over time
Benefits:
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People with transplants usually live longer than those who choose to stay on dialysis
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Better quality of life and long term health outcomes
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Successful transplant allows you the freedom to live the kind of life you were living before, without the burden of dialysis
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Fewer food/fluid restrictions, if any at all. You might be able to stop some other medications such as anti-hypertensives and phosphate binders
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Improved health and energy levels. Work and travel are easier due to having no dialysis requirements or restrictions
The video below explains the different types of kidney transplant and includes real patient stories to help you understand the process and what to expect.
How can I be as fit as possible for a transplant?
Eat Healthy
Watch salt intake, choose healthy fats, include fruit, vegetables and salad every day.
Good Blood Pressure Control
Reduce salt intake, lose weight if overweight, limit alcohol consumption, exercise.
Exercise
Exercising heals and maintains the health of blood vessels and this can prevent stokes, heart attacks and kidney failure.
Quit Smoking
Smoking damages your blood vessels which can make kidney disease progress much faster.
For more information on lifestyle and self care click HERE:
