Kidney
Transplantation
Three treatment options are
available when an individual suffers irreversible kidney
failure:
-
Hemodialysis,
-
Peritoneal
dialysis, or
-
A kidney
transplant.
Since dialysis may involve
years, possibly even a lifetime, of treatment, many
kidney failure choose a transplant.
In general, a transplant
offers a better long term quality of life, higher overall
energy levels and freedom of movement, and fewer
restrictions on the patient's diet.
Two types of kidney transplants
1) A healthy kidney can come
from a living donor who is a relative.
2) It can be "harvested" from
a non-relative who has recently passed away (known as a
non-living donor).
In either case,
transplantation is complicated because the patient's own
immune system will "reject" the new organ. Therefore, the
patient will need to suppress the immune system's
attempts to repel the "invader."
There are currently three
types of medications that can be taken to accomplish this
supression.
-
Cyclosporine or
tacrolimus or sirolimus.
-
Some type of
steroid, and
-
mycophenolate
mofetil, azathioprine or rapamycin.
A range of side effects from
these medications can complicate recovery. These could
include
Fortunately, most patients are
able to manage these side effects adequately and lead a
relatively normal life.
While kidney transplants have
had a growing success rate through the years, some
operations still fail and the kidney is rejected by the
immune system. In such cases, there may need to be a
second transplant.
Paying for a
transplant
Most private health insurance
policies cover kidney transplant costs.
Medicare also covers
about eighty percent of the cost of the procedure.
Medicare Part B covers much of the expense of
anti-supression drugs, but not most other medications
that may be needed.
For some people, especially
younger ones, Medicare coverage ends after 36
months. However, those who qualify for
Medicare because of age or disability may be covered
for the cost of anti-rejection drugs beyond that
period.
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