Referral Considerations
Considerations When Referring for Kidney or Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Transplant Eligibility Criteria:
- A patient does not have to be on dialysis to qualify for kidney transplant evaluation/listing. We would prefer to educate and evaluate patients early in the course of their disease.
- Full understanding of transplant procedure, its limitations and long-term compliance to follow-up requirements
- Strong social support network, especially family
- Free from active drug, nicotine or alcohol abuse
- Weight less than a BMI of 35
- Absence of serious systemic illness or other medical conditions that may affect immediate or long-term survival
Indications for Kidney Transplant:
Any condition that leads to end-stage renal (kidney) disease:
- Diabetes
- Glomerulonephritis
- Pyelonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Obstructive uropathy
- Congenital urinary tract abnormalities
- Alport's disease
- Hypertensive nephrosclerosis
- Reflux nephropathy
- Interstitial nephritis
- IgA nephropathy
- Goodpasture's syndrome
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Chemical nephrotoxicity
- Renal artery emboli
- Sickle cell nephropathy
Indications for a Kidney/Pancreas Transplant:
- Type I diabetes with advanced nephropathy
- Imperfect metabolic control of exogenous insulin
Absolute Contraindications for Kidney Transplant:
Factors which place individual at highest risk for poor outcome, poor quality of life or increased mortality
- Malignancy within the past two years
- Lack of adequate social or family support
- Significant non-compliance with medical regimen
- Severe central vascular disease (aortoiliac)
- Severe coronary artery disease
- Severe malnutrition/cachexia
Relative Contraindications for Kidney and Kidney/Pancreas Transplants include:
Factors which place individual at highest risk for poor outcome, poor quality of life or increased mortality
- Active tuberculosis
- Active drug/ETOH abuse
- History of recurrent malignancy (Patients free of cancer for two years will be considered.)
- Advanced coronary artery disease
- Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Current positive crossmatch
- Severe neurologic deficits or untreatable psychiatric illness
- Lack of family or social support
