Skip to main content

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.