Who Can Be a Candidate for Living-Donor Kidney Transplant at UPMC in Central Pa.?

Any person in good health can be evaluated as a living donor — the donor can be a blood relative or unrelated to the recipient.

The best possible donors for a transplant are siblings (brothers or sisters), parents or children of the recipient. The next preferred donors are other relatives (half brothers or sisters, grandparents, cousins, etc.). Other donors that can be considered are unrelated donors (spouses, friends, coworkers) and non-directed donors (people willing to donate to a person in need, without knowing or having any emotional attachment to the recipient).

Donors must be greater than 18 years old. They must not have a history of cancer, diabetes or chronic kidney stones. They must also be a compatible blood type. Patient pairs that are not blood type compatible may be eligible for paired exchange transplant.

Selection Criteria for Living Donation

A standard set of selection criteria are used to determine if it is safe or appropriate for a person to be a living kidney donor. The following conditions must be met for a patient to be considered as a living donor at our Transplant Center.

• Body Mass Index (BMI) less than or equal to 35.
• Normal blood pressure.
• Normal results of tests such as chest x-ray, EKG, and routine age appropriate testing.
• Acceptable crossmatch results.
• Normal cardiac stress test if over 50 years of age.
• Normal lab values.
• Normal/ acceptable CT angiogram (kidney anatomy).
• Adequate psychosocial and financial support.

The following may prevent a candidate from being eligible for living donation:

• Less than age 18 or over age 65.
• Blood pressure outside an acceptable range.
• Abnormal glucose levels: fasting value greater than 100 or two hour tolerance greater than 140.
• History of gestational diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorder such as lupus.
• Abnormal results from any requested testing.
• Infections or infectious diseases identified on work– up such as hepatitis or tuberculosis.
• Unstable mental health conditions.
• Social or financial concerns identified by transplant team.
• Substance abuse.

Contact Us

Need more information? Call 877-778-6110