What is it?

Kidney transplant usually occurs due to end-stage kidney disease, which may be caused by diabetes, uncontrolled and severe hypertension, chronic glomerulonephritis, and polycystic kidney disease. A kidney transplant occurs either from a compatible living donor or from a deceased donor. The risks associated with kidney transplants include the risks of the surgery, rejecting the donated organ, or from the immunosuppressive medications taken after the transplant. The new transplanted kidney will filter the blood, and dialysis will no longer be needed, having a great impact on the patient’s quality of life. After a kidney transplant, immunosuppressive medications have to be taken for the rest of the patient’s life in order to avoid transplant rejection. These medications increase the risk of infections.