Kidney Transplants

Kidney transplants are a viable long-term solution for kidney failure, offering patients a chance to lead a normal life post-procedure. This method involves implanting a kidney from an organ donor into the patient’s body to replace the damaged kidney. It’s a more favourable option than dialysis, which is restrictive and requires regular sessions.

However, kidney transplants come with their own set of challenges. The cells of the donor’s kidney have protein antigens on their surface that might differ from the patient’s own antigens. This difference can trigger the patient’s immune system to form antibodies against the kidney cell antigens, leading to organ rejection.

To reduce this risk, two precautions are taken:

  • Tissue Typing – This process ensures that the kidney is given to patients whose antigens closely match those of the donor kidney. However, it can lead to long waiting times for transplants, during which patients must undergo dialysis. In some cases, patients may not survive the wait for a match.
  • Immunosuppressant Drugs – These drugs suppress the immune system, reducing the immune response against the transplanted kidney. However, they also suppress the immune response against pathogens, increasing the risk of infections. These drugs must be taken for life.

Despite these precautions, most donor kidneys only survive for an average period of 8-9 years before the patient requires another transplant or a return to dialysis.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Kidney Transplants

Advantages

  • Patients can lead a more normal life with fewer dietary restrictions.
  • It’s cost-effective for healthcare systems in the long run.

Disadvantages

  • Patients must take immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection. However, this increases the risk of infection.
  • There’s a shortage of organ donors, which can delay the transplantation process.
  • The transplanted kidney only lasts 8-9 years on average.
  • As with any surgery, kidney transplants carry inherent risks.

In contrast, dialysis is available to all kidney patients and doesn’t require immunosuppressant drugs. However, it’s expensive, impacts the patient’s lifestyle and requires dietary limitations.