KIDNEYS
Kidney transplants are a vital tool in our medical inventory for keeping individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) active and alive. However, research shows that, along with the traditional problems associated with organ transplant (tissue rejection, surgical complications etc) individuals with CF who undergo a kidney transplant remain at increased risk for kidney disease even after a successful implantation.
The research also suggests that implanted kidneys have lower functionality in individuals with CF than in the base population. This troubling data emphasises the important of increasing donor availability and funding research into more successful transplant therapies.
Co-morbidities related to CF and kidney function are fairly common. Contractable diseases like diabetes and Hepatitis C are risk factors for kidney function and if CF is also present then these risks will be exacerbated. With that being said, it remains the case that a large proportion of kidney transplants are made on the basis of complications from a congenital disease.
At Cystic Fibrosis Australia (CFA) we believe that serious congenital conditions share a common cause because these conditions are often both very rare and extremely serious and thus in greatest needed of coordinated advocacy.
Additional Resources
CF and the Kidneys:
Kidney Transplant – Mayo Clinic
When is a kidney transplant required – News Medical Life Sciences
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