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TransplantBuddies.org Forums » Kidney - Pancreas Transplant » Switch from Cadaver Kidney to Stem Cell + Live Donor « Previous Next »
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Deniz
Member
Username: Deniz

Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2014
Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2014 - 08:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hello everyone!

I would like to know your views about the following situation. I am 26 years old and unmarried.

I was diagnosed with CKD Stage 5 on 1st November 2013. For two months (November and December) I was on dialysis (twice a week). On 1st of January 2014, a cadaver kidney became available and I got a call from the hospital to come for 'matching tests'.

I was a good enough match according to the doctors and I was the lucky recipient of this kidney.

The issue has been that this kidney was what the doctors called a 'marginal quality kidney' because the donor was a 75 years old, hypertensive lady.

My creatinine was 10+ before surgery and now it is 3.05. The kidney is doing its work very slowly, which the doctors said is expected of it.

I take 6.5 mg Prograf, 2 g Cellcept, 20 mg Wysolone everyday.

The doctors have told me that the life of this kidney may not be too long. In the meantime, I have read a lot about kidney transplants being performed using stem cells from the bone marrow of the live donor - which rids the recipient of immuno-suppressants in maximum two years.

If you guys were in my position, and if there was a live donor available - would you make a switch from the cadaveric kidney to a new live kidney?

My reason for considering it eventually in time is that I am so afraid of being immuno-suppressed. Plus I have no idea what having children in transplanted women looks like (anyone here who can shed light on that)?

Would the doctors perform such a surgery (in your areas)- where there is a working allograft already but the patient wants to switch?

Please let me know your views on this... If the stem cell thing really does work, then I will go for it eventually.}
All good things come to those who wait and don't die in the meantime - Mark Twain
bill s
Member
Username: Bill_s

Post Number: 151
Registered: 08-2011
Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2014 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Since you just received the kidney, it has not had time to stabilize in your body. You will have plenty of time to make any decision on what you want to do. When my creatinine hit 3.0, I was on a kidney diet and my kidney lasted over 6 more years before I got my transplant. So, I would say to continue to get as much info as you can to help you make your decision. Good luck!
Bill
Gene
Member
Username: Gene2x

Post Number: 48
Registered: 11-2011
Posted on Friday, January 24, 2014 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

"If you guys were in my position, and if there was a live donor available - would you make a switch from the cadaveric kidney to a new live kidney?"

Absolutely. I don't have the statistics in front of me, but everything I've read in the past indicates the outcome with live donors is significantly better than with cadaveric donors. Particularly given your age and the age of your donor. I was 65 when transplanted and the donor was a friend of mine the same age. Not a big deal for me. But a younger kidney would certainly benefit someone your age.

I can see a few other things popping up. The first being, who's going to pay for a second transplant unless your new kidney is failing? Then you'll need to find, and be accepted, by a transplant center that does the stem cell procedure. Not all do at this point.

Given your age I hope you're successful in having the second operation along with the stem cell procedure. Best wishes
Kidney Tx - Aug 4, 2011
VA Pittsburgh Health Care Center
Follow UPMC non-steroidal protocol
Live donor was my radio operator in Vietnam
1/6 match
Deniz
Member
Username: Deniz

Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2014
Posted on Saturday, January 25, 2014 - 09:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks for the responses... I am from India, so the medical procedures here are very cheap. The whole of my transplant costed me about 6500 USD (I don't have health insurance - not very common in India, besides I always felt super healthy - never saw this coming) which was quite affordable for me at this point. Even if the next transplant is twice as expensive, I will be able to pull it off.

My worries are only finding a transplant center that would be ready to take out my working cadaver kidney and do the new procedure on me :/

I read, so far in India there have been 2 such transplants. But I don't mind signing myself up for a clinical trial if/ wherever possible.

Considering the large age difference between me and my donor, I'm still quite worried. Besides even after 22 days of the transplant, my creatinine only went down to about 3.05 ...

I don't know what is in store for me in the future ...
All good things come to those who wait and don't die in the meantime - Mark Twain

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