Kidney Transplant Candidate Selection at University Hospitals
Each person’s journey to transplant is unique. Generally, a kidney transplant is indicated for patients who are suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD). These patients are in Stage 4 or 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Potential Candidates Are:
- Under 85 years old.
- Have end-stage kidney disease requiring chronic dialysis.
- Or have advanced chronic kidney disease.
- Or have chronic kidney disease and are in need another organ transplant.
Learn More About Kidney Transplant at UH
To refer a patient call 216-844-3689.
To learn more about our kidney transplant program, call 216-286-6830.
Some Conditions We Treat
Kidney transplant may be considered for serious kidney conditions including:
Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model
This kidney transplant hospital has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model. The IOTA Model aims to increase access to life-saving transplants for patients living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and reduce Medicare expenditures.
Learn More- Alport syndrome
- Berger disease
- Congenital nephrotic syndrome
- Diabetes
- Glomerulonephritis
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Henoch-Schönlein purpura
- Hypertension
- Nephropathic and juvenile cystinosis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Wegener granulomatosis
- HIV nephropathy
Other serious conditions that can benefit from kidney transplant include congenital renal obstructive disorders leading to hydronephrosis, including:
- Megaureter
- Posterior urethral valves
- Prune belly syndrome
- Ureteropelvic junction obstruction
- Vesicoureteral reflux
Patients with end-stage renal disease or other kidney conditions will undergo an evaluation to help determine if they are a good candidate for kidney transplant.
Who Doesn’t Qualify for a Kidney Transplant?
When determining if a kidney transplant is right for a patient, doctors weigh the risks and benefits of the procedure for each person. Absolute contraindications will likely threaten the patient’s life and make them ineligible for the procedure. Relative contraindications pose a higher risk of complications, but the benefits of the procedure may outweigh the risks.
Absolute contraindications for a kidney transplant include:
- Certain active infections that aren’t treatable.
- Certain types of advanced liver disease.
- Certain cancers or a history of certain cancers.
- Certain forms or advanced states of other medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, obstructive or restrictive lung disease, progressive central neurodegenerative disease, severe hematologic (blood) disorders, light chain deposition disease, heavy chain deposition disease, coagulopathy and AL amyloidosis.
- Certain anatomical characteristics that could prevent the safe transplant of a kidney.
- Elevated body mass index (BMI).
- Severe frailty.
- Lack of social support.
- Substance use disorder.
- Certain psychiatric disorders.
- Non-adherence with certain medical therapies despite counseling.
Relative contraindications for a kidney transplant include:
- Mental and social barriers that could interfere with the patient’s adherence to post-transplant care.
- A level of frailty that could prevent safe recovery.
- Significant peripheral vascular disease that could prevent safe transplantation.
- Recent cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease.
- Active pulmonary disease that has not improved with treatment.
- Active gastrointestinal disease with symptoms, including ulcers, diverticulitis, pancreatitis and active hepatitis.
- Uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in patients with moderate or high-grade dysplasia.
- Tobacco use combined with cardiac, lung or peripheral vascular disease.
- A recent long bone fracture (hip, femur, humerus).
- Insufficient insurance and financial resources for continued maintenance therapy after the kidney transplant.