kidney transplants vs dialysis- the better option?

Answer 1

Neither. Being hooked up to a dialysis machine is no fun.

The indication for kidney transplantation is end-stage renal disease (ESRD), regardless of the primary cause.

However, kidney transplants altho' permanent solutions to kidney failure require a lifetime of anti-rejection therapy. meds esp if the donor is not genetically similar to the recipient.



It's been documented that there is less rejection if precursor stem cells esp fetal were used in kidney transplant.


The majority of renal transplant recipients are on some form of dialysis – hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or the similar process of hemofiltration – at the time of transplantation. However, individuals with chronic renal failure who have a living donor available often elect to undergo transplantation before dialysis is needed.


Occasionally, the kidney is transplanted together with the pancreas.(SPK- simultaneous pancreas kidney ) This is done in patients with Diabetes Mellitus type I,DM) in whom the Diabetes is due to destruction of the beta cells of the Pancreas and in whom the diabetes has caused renal failure (diabetic nephropathy). This is almost always a deceased donor transplant. Insulin resistance can also occur in people who have type 1 diabetes, especially if they are overweight.


Only a few living donor (partial) pancreas transplants have been done. For individuals with Diabetes and Renal failure, the advantages of earlier transplant from a living donor are approximately equal to the risks of continued dialysis until a combined kidney and pancreas are available from a deceased donor.

Answer 2

The kidney is the most efficient means of cleaning the blood of waste material. Dialysis is good, but not nearly as good. A kidney filters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dialysis happens 2-3 times a week, takes about 4 hours each time, and radically alters the blood chemistry. Dialysis is rough on blood cells, and destroys quite a few in the process. You have to have blood thinners to prevent it clotting in the tubing, so have a higher risk of bleeding. And of course, in between dialysis treatments, all the waste is just circulating around in your body. Eventually, long term dialysis shortens your life. All things considered, a kidney transplant is the better option. You may have to take immunosupressants, but you live a lot longer.

Answer 3

Transplants of course if you can get a good match. Dialysis takes so much out of your week, at least a couple of hours, twice a week, depending on your body size. Which also means you can't travel without making sure there is a dialysis center near by and not to mention the side effects of dialysis itself and the supplements you will have to take. With all its risks, transplant is still a better life choice

Answer 4

As a kidney patient myself, I would say that transplant is the better option, you have to take anti rejection tablets for the life of the transplanted kidney but you are given more freedom and hardly any restrictions. Though the kidney may not see your life out and could reject at any time, and some patients need more than one transplant in their lifetime. When I was on dialysis, which i did at home every night for eight hours I was restricted to times for going to bed depending on when I had to be up, restrictions on fluid and food intake. Dialysis does a good job but not as good as a working kidney. Again you need to take tablets. I had to have a tube for my dialysis that came out of my stomach that I had to keep very clean to avoid infection. Your house is full of stock for your dialysis that you have to reorder every 2 weeks or each month.

So out of the two I would say transplant, as you feel far better then you do on dialysis.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

Kidney transplant. You still have to take antirejection medication for the rest of your life. But I would take the freedom of not having to go to dialysis all the time. Quality of life.

Answer 8

Have look at the following article from one of the best US transplant centers, Stanford.
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/september28/med-scandling-092805.html
With modern techniques the long term quality of life after transplantation is far better than dialysis.
The good news too is that the patient may be able to reduce immunosupressant drugs which may cause long term problems such as cancers.

Answer 9

Deffinately a kidney transplant if lucky to get one The amount of trouble and upsets and having to do home dialysis that my father had to do I honestly thought he was glad to eventually die with blood poisoning.A very sad loss

Answer 10

My Doctor Told Me the depressing news - "Your Kidneys Are FAILING!"

My worsening kidney disease symptoms included:
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- Passing only small amounts of urine and stopping and starting while urinating
- Swelling in my ankles and lower legs
- Puffiness around my eyes with brain fog and moodiness
- Chronic fatigue and shortness of breath when exerting myself
- Loss of appetite and not wanting to eat at all
- Increasingly higher blood pressure
- Bouts of anxiety and depression
- Muscle cramps which were worse in my legs

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My Doctor could not believe how much improved my kidney function output had increased and my GFR was UP and creatinine levels lower. My kidneys were starting to work again, and removing all the toxins in my body. I got my life back!

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