Concrete Findings For CKD Patients About Living Kidney Donors' Kidney Function After Transplant
Most of the over 101,000 Chronic Kidney Disease patients who are currently on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List desire a Living Kidney Donor to limit devastatingly long wait times which are currently 5 to 7 years on average and increasing. While 55,912 (49.5%) of the 112,948 kidney donors between 2000 and 2008 were living donors it is not enough, and that is why over 4,500 Chronic Kidney Disease patients die every year while awaiting a Kidney Transplant. One of the biggest obstacles preventing more individuals from stepping up to donate is misinformation about the process and safety of being a Living Kidney Donor. Now, however, the National Kidney Foundation's American Journal of Kidney Diseases has reported that Living Kidney Donors "increase kidney function over time," reaffirming the safety of the Transplant Procedure.
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Scrutinizers such as LivingDonor101.net have suggested that "The transplant industry can intentionally or unintentionally prioritize the recipient's need for treatment over living donors' safety." The sight further suggested that researchers "have not followed or studied them [Living Kidney Donors] comprehensively." While the first assertion may be incorrect since Living Kidney Donors are rigorously evaluated to limit any complications associated with Kidney Donation, it appears as though the National Kidney Foundation also finds a need for more post transplant investigation related to donor health. Dr. Bertram Kasiske said, "We’ve always assumed that Living Kidney Donation is safe, and it is, but safety is a relative thing.” Shockingly, there has been no "long-term studies with suitable controls that we need to prove the safety of Living Kidney Donation over time.”
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New findings have altered this deficiency of information and now provide the Chronic Kidney Disease Community in general and patients in need of a Kidney Transplant specifically, the concrete facts to further educate individuals who are interested in becoming a Living Kidney Donor as well as offer potential donors a greater peace of mind as it relates to their longer-term health after donation.
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More directly, the study which is now in its sixth (6th) year of assessing donors is looking at donors' health outcomes including: Medical history, vital signs, Kidney Function and Lab results. According to Medical News Today, Dr. Kasiske said, "It looks like the remaining kidney is still compensating for the loss in function at three years after donation. It will be interesting to see if these kidney function increases continue over time." Further, the good doctor suggested that none of the findings in the six (6) year study would "prevent people from donating."
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This is great news for those with Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients who need a Kidney Transplant. Patients should share this article with all of their Friends and Family so they too know that the 60+ year old practice of Living Kidney Donation is a safe process. There is a statement which LivingDonor101.net made that most can agree, "Becoming a Living Kidney Donor is an incredible sacrifice and act of generosity; the experience is as unique as the lives touched by it." If you are considering being a Living Kidney Donor contact KidneyBuzz.com (click here) and if you are a Chronic Kidney Disease patient in need of a Kidney Transplant and you would like more information on how to improve your chances of connecting with Altruistic Living Kidney Donors, then click here.
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