The kidneys are located on either side of the spine near your waistline. They are about the size of your fist and are bean-shaped.

Your kidneys remove waste products, regulate total body fluid, strengthen bones, contribute to red blood cell health and control minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous in your blood.

When disease damages kidneys over a period of time, kidney failure can result. Kidney failure is treated by dialysis, a life-long serious of prolonged treatments. A successful transplant would allow you to stop needing dialysis or avoid dialysis altogether.

Common Causes of Kidney Failure:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Chronic inflammation in the kidney (glomerulonephritis)
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Recurrent infections
• Chronic obstruction - blockage of the flow of urine

Signs of Kidney Disease

• Fluid retention
• Shortness of breath
• Mental confusion
• Abnormal blood or urine test results
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue

Treatment Options

• Dialysis
  • Hemodialysis
  • Peritoneal dialysis
• Transplant
  • Living donor
    • Related, Unrelated and Altruistic
    • Paired donation
  • Deceased donor
    • Expanded criteria donor (ECD)
    • Donation after cardiac death (DCD)
    • Hepatitis C positive donor
  • "High risk” donor