The kidneys filter blood, remove waste products, make hormones, and produce urine. The 2 kidneys drain via the ureters into the bladder where the urine is stored. In persons with end-stage renal (kidney) disease (also called chronic renal failure ), renal dialysis (use of a machine to substitute for the kidney in removing waste products) or kidney transplantation are the treatment options. A successfully transplanted kidney works as a person's own healthy kidney would. This means that the individual no longer needs dialysis and may reduce or eliminate need for some medications. Not every person with renal failure is a candidate for a kidney transplant, so treatment options should be discussed with your doctor. The February 9, 2011, issue of JAMA includes an article about kidney transplantation. This Patient Page is based on one published in the April 22/29, 2009, issue of JAMA.
Donated kidneys can come from deceased donors (individuals who have recently died and donated organs) or from living donors. Extensive testing takes place to make sure that donor organs are biologically compatible with the recipient. Living donors undergo an operation to remove one of their kidneys, which is then quickly transplanted into the recipient. Because of the large number of persons with renal failure and the limited number of donor organs available, waiting times for deceased donor kidney transplantation can be long. Having a living donor may reduce the waiting time and may result in a better match and less chance of rejection.
Grahic Jump Location
Because the body's immune system will try to reject (fight against) any foreign tissue, medications must be taken by a patient who has had any kind of transplant (except in some cases where the donor is an identical twin). These are called immunosuppressive medications and are taken as long as the donated organ continues to function. There are several types of immunosuppressive medications. An individual usually takes multiple medications to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Because the immune system is suppressed, persons who have a transplanted kidney or other organ are at an increased risk of a variety of infectious diseases and certain types of cancer.
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghousehttp://www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov
American Society of Transplantationhttp://www.a-s-t.org
National Kidney Foundationhttp://www.kidney.org
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link onJAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. A Patient Page on kidney failure was published in the February 11, 2009, issue and one on organ donation was published in the January 9/16, 2008, issue.
Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, American Society of Transplantation, National Kidney Foundation
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 312/464-0776.
TOPIC: KIDNEY DISEASE
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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