Kidney transplantation

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Kidney transplantation is the removal of a healthy kidney from a living or recently deceased person and then its transfer into a person with end-stage kidney failure.
(See also Overview of Transplantation.)
For people of all ages who have irreversible kidney failure, kidney transplantation is a lifesaving alternative to dialysis. In the United States in 2019, 23,401 kidneys were transplanted. It is the most common type of organ transplantation procedure.
Kidney transplantation is indicated when people have

Advanced, irreversible kidney failure

People in their 70s and sometimes 80s may qualify for transplants if the following apply:

They are healthy in other respects, can function independently, and have good social support.
They are expected to live a reasonably long time.
Transplantation is likely to substantially improve their ability to function and their quality of life beyond simply freeing them from dialysis.

People who also have type 1 diabetes may be candidates for simultaneous pancreas-kidney or pancreas-after-kidney transplantation.
Kidney transplantation is not done (is contraindicated) if people have certain disorders, such as a severe heart disorder or cancer. Some disorders that previously meant kidney transplantation could not be done (absolute contraindications) are now considered relative contraindications (meaning that transplantation may be possible with special precautions) because there are drugs to control them. For example, special precautions are carried out when people have poorly controlled diabetes (which can result in kidney failure) or certain viral infections (such as advanced hepatitis C) that may be made worse by taking the drugs required to prevent rejection after transplantation. These drugs inhibit the immune system and thus make it less able to defend the body against infection.
One year after transplantation, about 95% of kidney recipients are alive. The percentage of transplanted kidneys still functioning is

For kidneys from living donors: About 95%
For kidneys from deceased donors: About 90%

Each year thereafter, about 3 to 5% of kidneys from living donors and about 5 to 8% of those from deceased donors stop functioning. Transplanted kidneys sometimes function for more than 30 years.
People with successful kidney transplants can usually lead normal, active lives.