Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), is the result of a progressive decline (months to years) in the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the bloodstream. The most common causes of CKD include diabetes, glomerulonephritis, high blood pressure, urinary tract abnormalities, cystic diseases of the kidneys and failure of a prior kidney transplant. The treatment options are the same regardless of the cause of CKD: dialysis or kidney transplantation (also known as renal transplantation).

Kidney Transplantation for CKD
Because a kidney transplant can provide much more kidney function than dialysis, a transplant recipient will enjoy better health, and double the life expectancy they would have if they stayed on dialysis.

Kidney transplantation may not be an option for all CKD patients. Many of the patients on dialysis would not be made better by transplantation for a variety of reasons. In fact, some patients would be made worse or their life threatened by attempts at transplantation.  For these patients St. Joseph Hospital offers treatment through our Dialysis Center.

All patients with CKD are entitled to evaluation for transplant candidacy, but it is the transplant center's responsibility to recommend the best treatment for each patient.