Candidates
Candidates for kidney transplantation include patients who suffer from chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease. Patients with Type I diabetes may also be candidates for pancreas transplantation. Contraindications for kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants include:
- HIV serology positive
- Active tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B surface antigen positive
- Active drug/ETOH abuse
- History of recurrent malignancy (Patients free of cancer for two years will be considered.)
- Advanced coronary artery disease
- Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Current positive T-Cell crossmatch
- Severe neurologic deficits or untreatable psychiatric illness
- Age less than 1 year old
- Age greater than 65 years old
- Lack of family or social support
- Neurogenic bladder
- Severe malnutrition/cachexia
You need not be on dialysis yet to qualify for kidney transplant evaluation/listing. Your nephrologist may refer you for rapidly progressing renal failure or once your renal function is at or below 20% of normal.