Cautious Optimism Concerning Long-Term Safety of Kidney Donation

Kidney transplantation remains the preferred therapeutic option for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), since survival and health-related quality of life are better after kidney transplantation than after dialysis therapy. The incidence of ESRD has risen steadily over the past several decades, in part because of the increased incidence of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, alone or in combination, and in part owing to improved care for concurrent health risks such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. Moreover, the number of patients with ESRD who receive treatment has also increased because of a more liberal acceptance of candidates for dialysis therapy. . . .