In the rarest of rare events, a 49-year-old woman gave one of her kidneys to her ailing husband (51). UK's Donna Creed donated the organ to her husband Darren Creed who was suffering from polycystic kidney disease, BBC reported. The transplant happened in July.
As per the media report, the husband had been battling renal conditions for the last 12 years; until his kidney functioning fell to 19% only, the family started looking for a donor. Even though many members of his family tested, his wife's kidney was found to be a good match.
What is a kidney transplant?
Kidney transplant is a surgical process in which a kidney is transplanted from a donor to the patient. The donor can either be a deceased donor or a living donor. People who have reached end stage renal disease or ESRD are recommended to undergo kidney transplant. Kidneys are one of the most functional organs of the body. It removes urea and liquid waste from the blood. It balances the salts and electrolytes in the blood. One of the key functions of the kidneys is the production of erythropoietin, the key hormone that helps in the formation of red blood cells. Kidneys also play a key role in the regulation of blood pressure. A normal kidney maintains the acid-base balance in the body.
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What causes ESRD?
There are several reasons behind ESRD. Repeated urinary infections puts a damaging effect on the kidney functioning. Diabetes, and high blood pressure damage the kidneys. Inherited conditions like polycystic kidney disease can cause renal failure.
Experts at John Hopkins say that kidney transplants can lead to complications like bleeding, infection, blockage of the blood vessels to the new kidney, leakage of urine, and lack of functioning in the new kidney.
“The new kidney may be rejected. Rejection is a normal reaction of the body to a foreign object or tissue. When a new kidney is transplanted into a recipient's body, the immune system reacts to what it thinks as a threat and attacks the new organ. For a transplanted organ to survive, medicines must be taken to trick the immune system into accepting the transplant and not attacking it as a foreign object," an article available on the website of John Hopkins says.
You are not eligible for a kidney transplant if you have a recurring infection, if you have cancer that has already spread from its original location, if you have heart problems, and if you have serious conditions that might get serious after the transplant.
Here are the answers to a few common questions on kidney transplant:
What is kidney transplant?
Kidney transplant is a surgical process in which a new kidney from a donor is placed inside the patient's body.Do you live a normal life after kidney transplant?
Yes, a successful kidney transplant improves the quality of life of the patient.Can a person live with one kidney?
Yes, a person can survive with one kidney.
