What sort of things keep you off the transplant list?

[graceb]

Hi there,

My twin brother is going to be evaluated in 2 weeks at Cedar's to see if he can be on the transplant list. He has uncontrolled diabetes (Hemoglobin A1C around 7.9%), high blood pressure and he has been on dialysis since January. We are 47. We also have different blood types (he's A and I am B). My understanding is that I am not the best candidate to donate, but there is still a chance (if they test our blood?). I'm also wondering if his diabetes will prevent the transplant people from putting on the list. In the medical evaluation, what sort of things do they look at to allow someone to be placed on the list? Any advice on other people's experience would be most appreciated.

[willowtreewren]

Some things that are list stoppers:

To high BMI
Lack of prescription insurance (caught us!)
non-compliance during dialysis (skipping treatments, etc)

I'm sure there are others.

Aleta

[sparklelady]

Hi graceb,
I had a transplant in January. I am diabetic ( A1C is around 7.1) I also am on meds for high blood pressure. I don't think either one of those conditions will prevent your brother from being listed.
My biggest hurdle to being approved for transplant was my heart. I had to have 2 different types of stress tests and a heart catherization. I think my cardiologist was "covering his butt"!! ( I am 47,also!)
The best advice I can give  your brother is to stay on top of the tests, get a copy of ALL your results (things do get lost) and just be as patient as you can. It can be a long and frustrating process.
Good luck to both of you!!!

[Chris]

This won't put you off from being listed, but will put you on hold from my transplant center, smoking and drug use. You have to be clean from either for a certain amount of time, which I think was a year back in 2000. I am also a diabetic that had high bp and A1c that was high (cannot remembernumber), along with other complications from diabetes. Visual impairment did not hinder  being listed either.
 
If you do not match, their is the paired exchange program of donating, but if he is going for a transplant, has he thought about a dual transplant of a kidney and pancreas? It is like killing two birds with one stone. He can get a paired exchange kidney and still be listed for a pancreas that maybe done before or aftekidney transplant.

[peleroja]

They won't put me on the list until I weigh 160 or less.

[cattlekid]

If I may ask, what is your height?  I am just wondering b/c I am 5 foot 7 inches and when I went for my transplant evaluation, they didn't blink an eye at my weight of 205.  Does it depend on the center?

They won't put me on the list until I weigh 160 or less.

[Chris]

If I may ask, what is your height?  I am just wondering b/c I am 5 foot 7 inches and when I went for my transplant evaluation, they didn't blink an eye at my weight of 205.  Does it depend on the center?

They won't put me on the list until I weigh 160 or less.

There is a height to weight ratio that most centers go by. MY center went by one to, or did at the time.

[Sax-O-Trix]

Cancer and certain recurring infections will also keep you from a transplant.  TB and Hepatitis may be two of them, I can't remember.   

My BMI was 31.8 (considered obese on the chart, I was/am a size 16 with that BMI) pre-transplant and the transplant team never even suggested to me that I lose weight even though I need to lose at least 30 lbs..  Somehow, I didn't have other health issues other than kidney failure going into a preemptive living-related-great match transplant, so I think they let it slide.  I am now on a quest to lose 35 lbs., I have lost 6 lbs., so another 29 lbs. to go before September...