Renal transplantation is considered to be the best treatment for children
with End Stage Kidney Disease. It can reduce their death risk significantly to
sustain their life. However, the parents need to take the cons and pros of the
transplantation into consideration before taking the therapy.
Renal graft dysfunction
Renal graft dysfunction is the primary problem for children. The causes of
renal allograft dysfunction vary with the time after transplantation. In some
cases, the new kidney may fail in less than one week post-surgery. It mainly
results from the following factors:
Postischemia acute kidney injury, vascular thrombosis of the renal artery or
vein, recurrent or de novo renal disease, infection, urinary obstruction,
etc.
Complications
After renal transplantation, the children have to rely on immunosuppressive
drugs to suppress the rejection reaction. Long-term use of these drugs can cause
a myriad of complications.
Infection and cancer
After renal transplantation, children have to rely long-term use of
immunosuppressive drugs to suppress the immune system. However, the medication
therapy places the recipient under increased risk of cancer and infection.
Osteoporosis
Immunosuppressive drugs can accelerate the protein decomposition and slow
down its synthesis, which is a cause for osteoporosis. Also, it can disorder the
metabolism of calcium and phosphorus as well as restrain the absorption of
calcium. Osteoporosis can increase the fragility and cause retardation.
High risk of Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
Immunosuppressive drugs can disorder the sugar metabolism and place the
children at risk of Diabetes. The parents should monitor their child's sugar
level regularly. Additionally, receiving a renal transplantation increases the
children's risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Both of them are
important factors in causing cardiovascular diseases like stork and heart
attack.
Since there are so many potential risks and complications of renal
transplantation. Is there an alternative therapy for the children?
Immunotherapy brings extraordinary promising for patients with End Stage
Renal Failure. It is designed to restore the impaired kidneys.