Possible Complications:
Compications arising from kidney transplants may include rejection
of the new kidney (either immediately "acute rejection"
or some time later), acute tubular
necrosis, or infection.
After a kidney transplant patients are advised to take immunosuppressive
medication indefinately (i.e. lifelong).
Success of Kindney Transplants:
Graft survival is 80% one year after the procedure, and 60% 5
years after the procedure - according to 2001 UK statistics.
The relatively high overall success rate
for kidney transplants can be attributed to the following:
- The vascular connections are relatively simple (as shown in
the diagram above).
- It is possible to accept kidneys from live donors, which enables
very close blood matching between donors and recipients.
- Partly due to (2.), above, there are fewer immuno-supression-related
problems (in which the body's own immune system react against
the new kidney) than might otherwise be the case.
Note:
This topic is not strictly "Basic Anatomy & Physiology" but rather
simple information about a procedure.
It may be of interest to
students but not included for some course requirements.
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