End Stage Renal Failure [eGFR < 15%] – means kidneys don’t work-requiring renal replacement therapy in the form of Dialysis or Renal Transplantation.
End Stage Renal Failure – Is not fatal. Good quality treatments are available in the form of dialysis or renal transplantation.
Renal transplant – best option for an individual
- Any blood related donor is acceptable for transplantation provided relationship is established by genetic methods.
- Same blood group renal transplantation means receiving kidney from either same blood group or from O positive blood group
- Deceased donor-those who are brain dead in the intensive care unit following a road traffic accident or stroke
- Statistics suggests that about 150000 people in India are waiting for renal transplantation
- Only 1 out of 30 people who need a kidney receives one
- 90% of the patients in the waiting list die without getting the kidney
- Availability of kidneys for transplantation from deceased donor (Cadaver’s) – always a shortage due to denial of familial consent, demand supply mismatch, lack of awareness in various sub urban hospitals, economic constraints for transplantation
- Interesting to note that countries like Spain have made organ donation compulsory after death!!
Newer Milestone in Transplantation
ABO Incompatible renal transplantation
- Don’t need same blood groups for transplant-Across the blood group-Cross the barrier.
- Patient needs to remove antibodies in them before they acquire the kidney from donor.
- Excellent outcomes as same blood group transplantation with no major adverse effects.
Paired Kidney Exchange Program
Article by Dr. B.Balaji Kirushnan,
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), PGDHSC Diabetology, DNB (Nephrology)
Associate Consultant Nephrology,
Kauvery Hospital