Benefits of Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation to the Recipient

• The procedure can be scheduled even before the patient needs dialysis, eliminating the complications associated with dialysis.

• The wait for a deceased donor kidney in the state of Michigan can be very long during which time the patient's health may decline on dialysis. With living-donor transplantation, the waiting time can be reduced to just a few weeks.

• The chance of rejection is less with a living donor; short- and long-term outcomes are superior; and the overall cost and length of hospital stay are less.

• The long-term results of living-donor kidney transplants between unrelated donors (spouse, distant relative and friend) are as good as between related donors (parents, siblings and children).