I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: RAQ on February 09, 2012, 11:58:10 AM
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Does anyone have experience with how a chronic lung problem (bronchiectasis) could impact a kidney transplant? My wife (in her mid 60's) is currently on hemodialysis and she has a mild form of bronchiectasis. This results in her having periodic episodes of pneumonia, which are successfully treated with one course of antibiotics. Her respiralogist is quite concerned that if she were to receive a kidney transplant, she would be at increased risk of frequent pneumonia due to her immune system being suppressed by drugs. This could in turn lead to lung scarring.
We agree that this outcome would be quite negative, but we wonder if there are any strategies to minimize the risk? The bronchiectasis appears to be the main obstacle to a transplant.
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Well, her respirologist will not be the one making the decision about whether or not she qualifies for a transplant. Most people who are transplanted are not in perfect health, and centers have all sorts of tricks to overcome all sorts of potential problems. Has your wife started the pre-transplant evaluation process yet?
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Thanks for replying MooseMom. My wife has met with the head of the transplant team once and she has started on a second round of pre-transplant tests and specialists visits as many of her tests are now over a year old. So far the lung problem has been the only show stopper.
RAQ
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Hi Raq, a friend of mine has lung-problems and after discussions decided, and was advised not to go on the transplant list. The immuno-suppressants that you need to take to keep your kidney could make her immune-system very weak, so she could end up with pneumo-infections all the time. With dyer consequences for her whole body