The process of receiving a kidney transplant is rooted in finding a compatible donor, whether living or deceased. Compatibility is determined by both blood type and the matching of Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).  HLA’s are what stimulate the production of antibodies, which are produced by the immune system in response to a foreign body.  HLA make-up is inherited from your parents, which typically makes immediate family members the best match for donation.  However, it is possible for individuals to develop sensitivities to HLA antigens because of pregnancies, blood transfusions or viral/bacterial infections. These sensitivities are also tested to determine overall compatibility [...]

After receiving a kidney transplant, women may be less likely than men to experience damage to the new organ from the stopping and starting of blood flow during the procedure. This may be due to gender-specific hormones, according to a new preclinical study and an analysis of patient data published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The stopping and starting of blood flow to an organ can cause tissue damage called ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), which is a common cause of kidney injury. Specifically in kidney transplantation, [...]

Within the past 12 years, more than 63,000 patients in the United States have died waiting for a kidney transplant, while more than 100,000 currently remain on the transplant list. Meanwhile, the amount of living kidney donors in 2015 only reached a little over 5,000. Now, a new study from the University of Florida College of Medicine suggests offering compensation to living donors could increase the likelihood of kidney donations, which is currently prohibited. In a survey of 1,011 registered voters, 59 percent of respondents would be more likely to donate a kidney if offered $50,000, while 32 percent of respondents were indifferent. [...]