Living donation
Living kidney donation can be a very good alternative to dialysis therapy for end-stage renal disease. In the event of increasing deterioration in kidney function and a foreseeable need for renal replacement therapy (from an eGFR of approx. 20 ml/min), contact should be made with a Transplant Centre in order to obtain advice regarding admission to the waiting list and the possibility of living kidney donation.
In principle, it is possible to have a kidney transplant after a living kidney donation before the onset of dialysis; this is known as a pre-emptive transplant, which is a good way of avoiding dialysis, especially for children.
Nowadays, transplants can also be carried out across blood group boundaries. This is known as an AB0-incompatible transplant after living kidney donation. However, this requires the recipient to undergo 3 weeks of immunosuppressive pre-treatment before the actual transplant. This procedure is now firmly established at the MHH and is used in around 25% of living donations in Germany.
Who can donate?
In principle, only people of legal age can donate a kidney. The prerequisites are that the donor has no kidney function impairment and no previous illnesses such as diabetes mellitus (diabetes), heart attack or stroke.
Donations can be made by relatives up to the second degree, spouses, fiancés and other persons who are obviously personally close to the recipient.
The first step is an informative discussion, during which all necessary medical information (previous physician's letters, current medication) should be brought along.
The following preliminary tests would be helpful: creatinine, HbA1c, 24-hour urine collection with proteinuria and creatinine clearance and, if necessary, blood group (a corresponding form can be requested from us).
If the donor is in principle suitable for donation, an immunogenetic examination is carried out to rule out the possibility that the recipient already has antibodies against the donor organ, which would lead to the transplant being attacked by the body's immune system.
Further examinations of the cardiovascular system can then be arranged in accordance with the requirements of the Transplant Centre. These can be carried out on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Once all examinations have been completed, a second consultation is held to clarify all open questions and plan the operations.
In addition, a psychological evaluation is mandatory for donors and recipients in Germany.
After approval by the "Living Donor Commission of the State of Lower Saxony" (approx. 20-minute interview) on the premises of the Hanover Medical Association, the final planning and execution of the operations may be carried out.
Depending on the kidney function of the recipient, it may be necessary to rush through all steps successfully within approx. 6 weeks. However, if the recipient's kidney function is still stable, the transplant can also be scheduled for a later date.
The length of hospitalization for donors is usually between 3 and 5 days and is around 10 to 14 days for recipients.
The MHH currently cares for 2400 patients after kidney transplantation, and we have assisted over 700 patients with kidney donation. Around 200 potential donors present themselves to us every year.
Contact us
If you would like to find out more about the possibility of a living kidney donation, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Phone: +49 511 532 6303
E-mail
KIM address: Nierentransplantation-Lebendspende@MHH.KIM.Telematik (as of February 3, 2025)
Please use the following KIM address for reports on living kidney donation from February 3, 2025. KIM (Communications im Medizinwesen) is a secure communication tool of the Federal Government for the exchange of data between clinics and practices.