Factors influence longevity of the graft

[st789]

Why some patients can keep the graft for many years and some maybe just 2 years?  Could it be things such as type of job or financial situation or nutritional awareness or level physical activity post transplant.  I personally know one person has the graft for 20 years, and another for only 2 years.  Whenever I see my specialist, he always ask me 2 questions, my blood pressure and how frequent I go to the bathroom at night.

[Bajanne]

This is something I would love to find out.  I really would like my graft to outlive me, but I don't know what I can do to assist that.  I notice that there is a little ballooning at one point in the arterial section and the pulse beats harder at that point.  Should I be worried?

[Rerun]

Are we talking "graft" as in Transplant?  Nephrologists may refer to a transplanted kidney as a graft.

Or are we talking about a graft in the arm as an access?

[livecam]

Yea he is talking graft as in transplant.  There are many factors that affect the longevity of a transplant and I don't think what the recipient does has a lot to do with them.  Sure if the recipient doesn't take transplant meds or is obviously abusive to the kidney as a result of lifestyle decisions that is going to hurt things.

A job or financial situation should have no bearing on survival rates unless post transplant medical care becomes an issue because of lack of ability to pay and that doesn't happen very often.

No one really knows how the recipient immune system is going to behave toward the new kidney or how that kidney is going to react to it.  There is much experience in this area but there are no guarantees after the two are put together.

The quality of the graft itself probably has much to do with overall survival rates.  The recipient should probably be doing all of the common sense things most transplant patients do such as keeping him or herself well hydrated, avoiding contagious illness, keeping blood pressure and blood sugar in check, trying to maintain a decent level of activity, and staying happy.

Common sense is probably the best prescription for keeping a transplant healthy for a long time.

[st789]

Sorry if I did not clearly stated, Yes I mean the transplanted kidney.  I like the part about livecam mentioned that stay happy because depression does occur in some patients.  Thanks guys as always.