Study:
The Long Term Medical and Psychological Implications of Becoming a Living Kidney Donor: A Prospective Pilot Study
Rationale:
n/a
Purpose:
Kidney transplantation, a `miracle` of modern medicine, is the preferred treatment option
for End Stage Renal Disease compared to dialysis, patients who receive kidneys have a 70%
reduction in risk of death, a dramatically improved quality of life and cost the health care
system considerably less. As a result there are over 3000 Canadians, and 57,000 Americans on
the waiting list for a kidney. To meet the shortage in cadaveric kidneys, rates of living
kidney donation have nearly doubled over the last 10 years, and will continue to rise with
growing demand.
Yet despite its advantages for the recipient, living kidney donation remains a complex
ethical, moral and medical issue. The premise for accepting living donors is that the
"minimal" risk of short and long-term medical harm realized by the donor is outweighed by
the definite advantages to the recipient and potential psychosocial benefits of the
altruistic gift to the donor. The only benefit for the living donor is psychological -
donors experience increased self-esteem, feelings of well-being and improved health related
quality of life with their altruistic act of assuming medical risk to help another. The
short-term consequences of living donation are well established. On the other hand the
long-term implications of living kidney donation are far less certain. This study will look
at the long term implications of living kidney donation.
Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruiting:
n/a
| Condition |
Intervention |
Phase |
|
Living Kidney Donors |
n/a |
N/A |
Verified by
Amit Garg
April, 2013
Sponsored by: Amit Garg
Information provided by: Lawson Health Research Institute
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00319579
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
United States
Amit X Garg, MD., Principal Investigator