Search the A to Z Guide
Can a person with HIV have a kidney transplant? Yes, it is possible for people with HIV to have a kidney transplant. All candidates for a kidney transplant need to undergo a thorough medical exam before being an active candidate on the kidney transplant waitlist. HIV patients must have an...
Until recently, a transplant patient could only receive an organ from someone with a compatible blood type. An organ from someone with an incompatible blood type would be perceived as foreign and vulnerable to attack by the recipient's natural antibodies. Now, through a process called...
It is possible that the flu shot might not work as well in people with a kidney transplant, since they have a less active immune system from their anti-rejection medicines. However, a flu shot is still recommended for people with a kidney transplant. Flu shots offer the best chance for...
Good health care is always a team effort—especially for transplant recipients. You and your family are the most important members of the transplant care team. You can take an active role in your care by learning all you can and taking part in your treatment plan. Since each member of the health...
Can I be listed at multiple transplant centers? Yes, it is possible to list at multiple transplant centers. Often people choose a transplant center closest to their home for convenience, but it is possible to list at multiple transplant centers if you wish. Why do some people choose to be...
Many people feel that a successful kidney transplant offers a better quality of life than dialysis. To be considered for one, you must be evaluated at a transplant center. This is done to make sure that a kidney transplant is the best choice for you. The evaluation will be very...
Will my sexual health improve after a kidney transplant? Many people who experienced sexual problems while on dialysis will find improvement after a kidney transplant. Your new kidney will help you feel better and have more energy. This will help to make your sexual life more enjoyable. In fact,...
What is a preemptive transplant? If you have kidney disease, getting a transplant before you need to start dialysis is called a preemptive transplant. Getting a transplant not long after kidneys fail (but with some time on dialysis) is referred to as an early transplant. Both have ...
Schedule regular healthcare visits Take all your medications every day and at the same time as instructed Discuss any medication concerns or side effects with your transplant team Eat healthy Get regular exercise Keep a healthy weight Ask how you can lower your chances for high blood pressure,...
What is a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant (SKP)? A kidney-pancreas transplant is an operation to place both a kidney and a pancreas — at the same time — into someone who has kidney failure related to type 1 diabetes. In many cases, both transplanted organs may come from one deceased donor....
Fertility (the ability to have a child) tends to increase in both men and woman after a transplant. Are you thinking about pregnancy? If so, you should discuss it beforehand with your transplant team and other healthcare providers. There are many things to consider. You and your healthcare provider...
Tips for writing a letter or social media post to your friends, family, and/or community: Make it personal, tell YOUR story (what is treatment like, how do you feel) Use information on kidney.org to include facts on kidney disease, living donation, and transplant. Include a photo with...
By Janelle E. Gonyea, RD, LD After receiving a new kidney, you naturally look forward to freedom from the restrictive diet you needed to follow while you were waiting for a transplant. There are so many "no nos" while following a diet designed to preserve remaining kidney function and maintain a...
To find a transplant center in your area visit the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) website. Then follow these steps: Select "Transplant Centers by Organ" under Member Type Select "Kidney" for Organ Type Select your state or region
Though dialysis is the preferred choice for some people, many other people with kidney failure choose to have a kidney transplant. Transplantation has many advantages, such as a lifestyle free from dialysis and fewer fluid and dietary restrictions. Kidney transplants, when successful, usually...
What blood tests will I need to find out if a patient and a potential donor are a kidney match? There are three main blood tests that will determine if a patient and a potential donor are a kidney match. They are blood typing, tissue typing and cross-matching....
Anti-Rejection Medications. Medications that are taken every day for the rest of your life after receiving a transplant. When you get a kidney transplant, your body knows that the new kidney is foreign (that is, not originally part of your body). Your body will attack the new kidney and try to...
By Carrie A. Schinstock, M.D. Antibodies are important, right? Our immune system naturally forms antibodies as a protective response against bacteria and viruses. In the context of transplantation, antibodies are good when they are ready to attack foreign invaders that can lead to illness, but...
What is BK virus? BK virus is a virus that most people get in childhood. Symptoms can feel like a common cold. Once you get a BK virus infection, the virus stays in your system for good. But it does not cause a problem for most people. This is called latent, or like being ‘asleep’ in your body....
Martha Walker, DPT, CSCS Chris L. Wells, PhD, PT, CCS, ATC At the time of your organ transplant, you were placed on a regimen of immunosuppressant medications to prevent your immune system from rejecting the donor organ. There are many different immunosuppressant medications you may have been...
Dialysis & COVID-19 Find answers about dialysis during the COVID-19 outbreak here. Kidney transplant & COVID-19 Find answers about transplant during the COVID-19 outbreak here. What happens when your kidneys fail? Healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They keep your whole body in...
Are you considering giving one of your kidneys to someone in need? A good living donor candidate is healthy, well-informed, and makes a voluntary decision to donate. If you are a potential living donor, you will be starting an amazing journey. But before you can donate, the transplant center must...
What blood types "match"? Blood typing is the first blood test that will determine if your blood is compatible with the potential donor's blood. If the donor's blood type works with your blood type, the donor will take the next blood test (tissue typing). Kidney donors must have a compatible blood...
Many people who need transplants of organs and tissues cannot get them because of a shortage of donations. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants. About 16 or 17 people die every day while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ such as...