Renal Transplant Blog

Kidneys From Donors Older Than 70 Still Viable

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, April 1 – When it comes to kidney donation, you're never too old to give or receive, new research shows.

In a study of kidney transplants from donors who were 70 years old and older, Italian researchers found that after two years, the kidneys appeared to be functioning as well as those from donors who were 10 years younger.

"Ninety-three percent of kidneys from donors over 70 years, and 91 percent of kidneys from donors aged 60 to 69, had grafts [the transplanted organ] that were still functioning at two years after transplantation," said study co-author Dr. Giuseppe Remuzzi, research director of the Negri Bergamo Laboratories at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Bergamo. Read more...

Related support groups: Renal Transplant

Guidelines Suggested for Heart-Kidney Transplants

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, March 18 – A set of criteria to help identify people who would benefit from a combined heart and kidney transplant has been developed by U.S. researchers.

"In the past, patients with end-stage heart failure having concurrent renal (kidney) disease were not considered candidates for heart transplantation," Dr. Mark J. Russo, of Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, and colleagues noted in the study. "With advances in operative techniques and perioperative (around the time of surgery) management, combined heart and kidney transplantation is offered to select patients in this population."

However, there are no standardized guidelines for heart and kidney transplants. Read more...

Related support groups: Organ Transplant, Renal Transplant

Living Kidney Donation Chains May Help More Get Transplants

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, March 11 – In 2006, one healthy young man stepped forward, willing to give one of his kidneys to a complete stranger. Two years later, 10 people had received new kidneys from that one remarkable altruistic act.

That's because his donation started the first nonsimultaneous, extended altruistic-donor (NEAD) chain. The woman who received the altruistic donor's kidney had a family member (her husband) who was willing to donate, but couldn't donate to his wife. So, he gave his kidney to a young woman whose mother was also willing to donate, but didn't match, and so on, and so on, until 10 successful transplants had occurred. The final donor in the chain is still waiting for a good match to someone in need of a kidney. Read more...

Related support groups: Renal Transplant

New Test May Help Kidney Transplant Patients

Posted 3+ months ago by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21 – A new urine test that can detect a common cause of kidney transplant failure may help lead to better diagnosis and treatment of patients with polyomavirus nephropathy, which affects about 9 percent of kidney transplant patients.

Polyomaviruses are harmless to healthy adults but can cause serious problems for people with compromised immune systems. People having a kidney transplant take medicines to suppress their immune system to protect against organ rejection. Read more...

Related support groups: Renal Transplant