Living donor kidney transplantation at the University of Michigan.

Since renal transplantation is the definitive therapy for most patients with end stage renal disease, we have the challenge of meeting the needs of this rapidly growing population. Currently greater than 1000 patients are waiting for kidney transplantation at the University of Michigan. To meet this demand we have aggressively expanded the donor pool from both deceased and living donors. The focus of this update has been the evolving living donor program at the University of Michigan. In light of the rising rates of obesity in America, we have developed a specialized evaluation to assess potential obese donors. Individuals with a history of hypertension and no other risk factors for kidney failure are screened according to a protocol seeking to identify patients with a low risk of developing chronic kidney disease. We have developed unique approaches to patients with anatomic anomalies as well as nephrolithiasis. Despite all of these progressive approaches, our living donor outcomes at the University of Michigan have remained excellent and we have continued to provide a high standard of care for our recipients suffering from end stage renal disease.