Is a Kidney Transplant an Option?

Ways to receive a transplant; transplant as a treatment for kidney failure—not a cure. You can also view this video on the NKDEP website at ******

>> A doctor speaks with a patient in his office. >> Is kidney transplant an option? >> In general, kidney transplant is the best treatment for people with kidney failure. Dialysis does maintain life but it doesn't replace all of the functions of the kidney. If you receive a kidney transplant, well, you have a new kidney and that kidney does all the things that it's supposed to do. The main problem with kidney transplant is that there are not enough kidneys for donation. Patients can receive a kidney from a relative or from an unrelated person and -- but most kidneys still come from patients who've recently died. If you are lucky enough to receive a kidney transplant, you still need to receive medical care and you'd still need to take medications. So kidney transplant is not a cure, it's a treatment.