Nephrology, Internal Medicine and Kidney Diseases

Renal transplantation and immunosuppression

Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment for end-stage kidney disease, offering patients improved quality of life and increased survival rates compared to dialysis. However, to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney, patients require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressive medications such as calcineurin inhibitors, corticosteroids, and antimetabolites can effectively prevent rejection, but can also increase the risk of infections, malignancies, and other complications. Research is ongoing to identify new immunosuppressive strategies with fewer side effects. Additionally, personalized medicine approaches, including pharmacogenomics, may help optimize immunosuppressive therapy for individual patients. Overall, renal transplantation remains a life-saving option for patients with end-stage kidney disease, and the management of immunosuppression is crucial to ensure long-term graft survival.