Dr. Arghya Majumdar
Renal Transplant Physician in Kolkata, India
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
British scientists have managed to change the blood type in three donor kidneys in a discovery that could potentially speed up transplants for patients with less common blood types, such as ethnic minorities.
Biopharma Calliditas launches drug for immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. An advancement in both kidney disease and rare disease research, a new drug was launched by Swedish biopharma Calliditas Therapeutics in January 2022 after receiving FDA approval in 2021 for the treatment of IgA nephropathy.
Infections are very common, even many months or years after a kidney transplant. The most common infections are chest or urine infections. These are usually fairly straightforward to treat with antibiotic tablets. The most common of these is a virus called CMV (cytomegalovirus).
On the other hand, patients who receive a kidney transplant typically live longer than those who stay on dialysis. A living donor kidney functions, on average, 12 to 20 years, and a deceased donor kidney from 8 to 12 years.
The donated kidney is placed into your lower abdomen (belly), where it's easiest to connect it to your important blood vessels and bladder. You may be surprised to learn that your own kidneys generally aren't taken out when you get a transplant.
The right kidney is commonly slightly bigger than the left, but some people are born with a larger left kidney than right. The kidneys are generally close to each other in size with the size difference generally less than one centimeter in length.
There are 3 main types of dialysis: in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis. Each type has pros and cons. It's important to remember that even once you choose a type of dialysis, you always have the option to change, so you don't have to feel "locked in" to any one type of dialysis.
Fluid is pumped into the peritoneal cavity through the catheter. As blood passes through the blood vessels lining the peritoneal cavity, waste products and excess fluid are drawn out of the blood and into the dialysis fluid. The used fluid is drained into a bag a few hours later and replaced with fresh fluid.
Hemodialysis may be preferred by patients who want healthcare professionals to handle more of their treatments because peritoneal dialysis requires patient training and dedication. Only you and your doctor can make the decision about which type of dialysis is best for you.
Kidney transplant patients over 70 years, as seen in our cohort, had good short-term outcomes. Graft survival is similar to rates seen in younger cohorts but the decline in this rate over time is steeper in the older age group, possibly due to decreased patient survival.
