Kidney Transplantation

Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplantation is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one individual (donor) to another (recipient) through a specialized surgery. It is one of the best treatment options for patients with kidney failure.

The first successful transplant was a kidney transplantation performed between identical twins by Dr. Joseph Murray and his colleagues. A number of advances such as the development of immunosuppressive agents (drugs that suppress the immune system) and improvement in the surgical techniques have resulted in a notable increase in the quality of life of the patients who have received renal transplants and a reduction in the associated mortality and morbidity over the past 10 years.

Causes of Renal failure

1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Chronic glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the microscopic structure of the kidney)
4. Polycystic kidney disease (hereditary kidney disease in which the entire kidney is filled with cysts)
5. Acquired diseases of the genitourinary system (stone formation in the kidney or the bladder, enlargement of the prostate gland)
6. Congenital anomalies related to the urinary system

Kidney Transplantation - References

1. ���Smith�s General Urology (15th Edition)
2. Emil A. Tanagho, MD and Jack W. McAninch, MD
3. �The McGraw- Hill Companies
4. Kidney transplant - (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003005.htm)