Kidney Transplants - Pros & Cons
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 13.1.9
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Kidney Transplants
Many patients choose to have a kidney transplant if they need one. The donated kidney often comes from a close relative.
Advantages
- The patient does not need to have dialysis treatment, which is time-consuming.
- Transplants are cheaper than dialysis in the long run.
Disadvantages
- The kidney may be rejected by the body.
- There can be long waiting lists for kidney transplants.
- The patient often has to take immunosuppressant drugs. These can make a patient more prone to other infections.
Test yourself on Kidney Transplants - Pros & Cons
Which of these are advantages of kidney transplants?