Am I a Candidate for Kidney Transplant?
Kidney transplant can offer people with advanced kidney disease or kidney failure an alternative to long-term dialysis.
You don't have to wait until you're on dialysis to begin exploring transplant.
At UVA Health, each person is evaluated individually. Our team considers your overall health, kidney disease, medical history, and individual circumstances to decide whether kidney transplant may be a safe and correct treatment option for you.
Request a Kidney Transplant Evaluation
When Should I Be Referred for Kidney Transplant?
You may be referred for transplant evaluation when you have advanced chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
If your kidney function continues to decline, talking with your nephrologist about transplant early can help you plan.
Early referral may give you more time to:
- Complete your transplant evaluation
- Explore living donor transplantation
- Address health concerns that could affect transplant
- Prepare for the deceased donor waiting list
- Consider transplantation before dialysis becomes necessary
You do not need to have a living donor before being referred.
What Is a Preemptive Kidney Transplant?
A preemptive kidney transplant happens before dialysis is needed. For some people with progressive kidney disease, this may be possible, especially when a living donor is available. Starting the transplant process early can help preserve this option.
Who May Be Eligible for Kidney Transplant?
Kidney transplant may be considered for people with advanced kidney disease (GFR is less than or equal to 20ml/min and those on dialysis) who are healthy enough to undergo transplant surgery and manage the lifelong care required after transplantation.
During your evaluation, our team considers factors including your:
- Kidney disease and kidney function
- Overall physical health
- Heart and lung health
- Other medical conditions
- Previous surgeries and treatments
- History of cancer or serious infections
- Ability to safely take anti-rejection medications
- Social support and care partner needs after transplant
Having another medical condition does not necessarily mean you can't receive a kidney transplant.
The purpose of the evaluation is to understand your health as completely as possible and determine the safest path forward.
What If I Have Other Health Problems?
Having another medical condition does not necessarily mean you cannot receive a kidney transplant. Some conditions may require additional testing or treatment before transplantation can safely move forward.
What If I Have Been Told I'm Not a Candidate Somewhere Else?
Transplant centers may have different approaches to evaluating patients and the transplant options they offer.
If you have been evaluated at another transplant center or told that transplantation may not be an option, you may choose to seek another opinion.
Our team can review your individual circumstances and determine whether additional evaluation or transplant options may be appropriate.
What If I Am Difficult to Match?
Some patients have antibodies that make finding a compatible kidney more difficult. Being difficult to match does not necessarily mean transplant is not possible. UVA offers several approaches that may create additional paths to transplant.
What if I Have Diabetes Mellitus?
Certain patients with diabetes mellitus may be candidates for a pancreas transplant in addition to a kidney transplant. The pancreas transplant can be conducted after a living donor kidney transplant, called pancreas after kidney (PAK), or as a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant (SPK).
Your transplant team will discuss if you are a candidate for a pancreas transplant during your evaluation.
[Explore Kidney Transplant Options – LINK to https://www.uvahealth.com/treatments/kidney-transplant-surgery
How Do I Find Out If I Qualify?
The first step is a kidney transplant evaluation.
You may be referred by your nephrologist, dialysis provider, or another healthcare professional. You can also contact our transplant program to learn more about starting the process.