Avoiding Dialysis with a Living Kidney Transplant

People who receive a living donor kidney transplant do better and live longer than patients who need to go on dialysis. Study after study indicates that patient survival is longer and quality of life is better with a pre-emptive live kidney transplant.* Our goal is to find a living kidney donor so that Eric does not get that sick so as to have to go on dialysis.

Two kidneys are not necessary for a long and healthy life so just about anyone can donate a kidney to someone in need as long as they have good blood pressure, a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 32 and good kidney function. Medical transplant professionals are careful in the evaluation and won’t accept a potential donor if they think there will be ramifications for the donor. In general, the healthier someone is before transplant, the healthier they will be post transplant.

A genetic match to donate a kidney is not necessary any more because of improvements in anti-rejection medication. Eric has type “O” blood so donors within type “O” group** would be the most compatible donor but there are other options for potential donors with type “A” or “B” blood. St. Michael’s Hospital is one of the few North American transplant centers that can even filter Eric’s blood to be compatible with potential donors with type “A” or “B” blood.

We don’t know when Eric will need a transplant but I know I don’t want to see him get so sick that he would need to go on dialysis. Dialysis means he will become even more ill – perhaps even too ill to undergo a transplant. And patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) cannot register for a deceased donor kidney until they start dialysis. Let’s hope we can find someone before that day comes.

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*Source: U.S. Renal Data System 2013 Annual Report. End-Stage Renal Disease in the United States

** + or – doesn’t matter