Webinar: What Patients and Donors Need to Know About Living-Donor Kidney Transplant

you can ask questions here.

My husband had severe MRSA sepsis. He had a sonogram 8 months later which shows a sepated cyst in the pole of kidney, the sonogram was abnormal . The sonogram was done due to the creatinine still rising . Does anyone know if he will get better? He is 70 yrs. old and was misdiagnosed in the ER with a virus. I took him home when he was actually in septic shock with a very low blood pressure and cardiomegally which he can confirm he never had before, how did all this happen to his organs ?

Hi Shirl. I'm so sorry this is happening to your husband. I'm checking on this with our specialists and will hopefully have a response for you soon.

Thank you. It is hard to see and hear a medical doctor stand and say hmmm, I wonder why the 2000ml of fluid is not raising his blood pressure? Well 70 /50 and lower for so many hours ,chilling , spiked fever etc. I wanted to ask also the kidney sonogram also said arththerioclirotic artery in both kidneys, I can't spell the word but wonder what that means?

Shirl, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. I spoke with one of our experts and he would need quite a bit more information to answer your questions. A physician who is familiar with your husband's medical history would be better suited to help.

If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices (Arizona: 480-301-8484 Florida: 904-953-0853 Minnesota: 507-538-3270).

I've copied some links below that may be helpful to you.
MRSA: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/basics/symptoms/con-20024479
Sepsis: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sepsis/basics/definition/con-20031900
Kidney cysts: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cysts/basics/definition/con-20035205
Creatinine test: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/creatinine/basics/definition/prc-20014534
Low blood pressure: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20032298
Cardiomegaly: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-heart/basics/definition/con-20034346
Artheriosclerosis: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/basics/definition/con-20026972

I am 41 and have been on PD for the past 5 years and on the waiting list for the past 6 and suffering each day. I have a high PRA which apparently is eliminating me upfront at the crossmatch level for consideration for a transplant. I have been reading abt plasmopheresis in order to reduce antibodies, so that I may become eligible for transplant. I understand that Mayo is one of only a few centers working on desensitization protocols. My questions are 1) Is plasmapheresis the recommended 1st treatment, or is treatment with IVIG, Rituxan normally considered first? 2) I understand that a few centers are offering this treatment even if one does not have a living donor. Is this correct? 3) I understand that transplant centers are affiliated with various paired donation organizations, i.e., UNOS, Alliance for Paired Donation, etc. If I were to find a living donor who was incompatible to me, how would I increase/guarantee my chances to receive a kidney through the paired donation program if the underlying factor is that my PRA levels are so high to begin with? Would entering a chain be more beneficial? 4) I recently read that there was a paired donation that occurred between a patient in Greece and a patient in USA. This seems to be a good news in that international paired donations are happening which will widen the population of potential donors. Are other countries also participating in this program? As I have family in another country, could they be tested and possibly come to US to donate to me, or if incompatible to me, join a paired exchange program or chain?

I am sorry for being so long-winded. I am desperate for any information.
By the way, I am registered at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans.

Thank you in advance to the fine doctors at Mayo for taking time to address my questions!

Hi I just read your comment and questions. I am not a doctor but I am a kidney transplant recipient for the second time. My first transplant was from a deceased donor and lasted 16 years. While waiting for my second transplant I learned that my PRA was also very high and caused me not to match anyone who was tested. I ended up listed on the Pair Donor Exchange Program with Mayo Clinic Minnesota and Florida as well as in Houston and San Antonio Texas. After being listed for 6 years and on PD for 4 years, I finally received my second kidney from a living donor. I did plasamapheresis before and after my transplant. I had a long journey, fought hard to keep my kidney once I got it and traveled all over the country but I can say it was worth it. I am doing well. Even though I didn't end up getting my kidney through the Mayo Clinic; I know they had my best interest in mind. I hope you have all your questions answered today. Good Luck with everything in the future. Know that you can do this.

Isn't unusual to take a donor kidney from someone with HTN? People with HTN are at risk for ESRD themselves, so why would they donate one of their functioning kidneys?

I'm being tested to be a living donor. What can I do both before and after surgery to protect my health and ensure the best possible outcome?

I am stage 3, on the verge of stage 4 with PKD. Extreme fatigue and pain are my daily experience. I haven't worked in 5 months. Can you explain Preemptive Kidney Transplant please and what the criteria are for having this procedure? - Porter Versfelt, Atlanta