About Kidney and Pancreas Transplants

What role do kidneys play in the human body?
Kidneys filter the blood, removing waste from the body and helping maintain its proper chemical balance. In addition, the kidneys produce:

• Rennin, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure
• Erythopoietin, a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells
• Vitamin D, which the body needs to absorb calcium

What causes kidney disease?
Many medical conditions, diseases or injuries can lead to a loss of kidney function or even chronic kidney failure.

Because the warning signs of kidney disease can remain silent for years, it's important that you get regular checkups, especially if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. If you have some of the symptoms of kidney disease, your physician may order blood tests and a kidney biopsy test to assist in your diagnosis.

What happens during kidney transplantation?
Kidney disease could eventually damage the kidney, and your doctor may recommend a kidney transplant. Kidney transplantation is a procedure in which a new kidney from another person is placed into your body, taking over the work of your two failed kidneys. The new kidney can do all the work that your failing two kidneys could not. Candidates for kidney transplantation can be put on a national waiting list for a healthy kidney, but some may receive a kidney from a living donor who is usually a family member or close friend of the recipient.