Chronic Kidney Disease
What are the Leading Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease?
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney failure; diabetes accounts for approximately one third of new cases of chronic kidney failure in the United States each year. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney failure in the United States; it accounts for about 30 percent of all cases.

What are the Warning Signs of Chronic Kidney Disease?

1. High blood pressure.
2. Blood and/or protein in the urine.
3. A creatinine blood test greater than 1.2 for women and 1.4 for men. (Creatinine is a waste product removed from the blood by healthy kidneys. In kidney diseases, creatinine levels in the blood may increase. Creatinine levels vary with age, race and body size. A lower value may be a sign of kidney disease in children)
4. More frequent urination, particularly at night.
5. Difficult or painful urination.
6. Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands and feet, especially in children.

How Many People are Affected by Chronic Kidney Disease?
More than 20 million Americans have diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. More than 90,000 die each year because of these diseases. About 200,000 Americans suffer from chronic kidney failure and need dialysis to stay alive. In addition, experts estimate that by the year 2010, the number of new people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease is expected to double.

How Many People May Be At-Risk and Not Know It?
Experts estimate that more than 3,000,000 Americans have undiagnosed kidney and urinary tract diseases. One in 9 American adults have chronic kidney disease and most don't know it.

Kidney Failure
What is Kidney Failure?
The definition of kidney failure is the point at which the kidneys have failed and where dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to maintain life.

If My Kidneys Fail, What are My Options?
Dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary to maintain life in the event of total kidney failure. Before dialysis was available, total kidney failure meant death. Today, people with kidney failure can live because of treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant. Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys. It is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs.

When is Dialysis Needed?
You need dialysis when you develop end stage kidney failure-usually by the time you lose about 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function.

What Does Dialysis Do?
Like healthy kidneys, dialysis keeps your body in balance. Dialysis does the following: Removes waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body; keeps a safe level of certain chemicals in your blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate; helps to control blood pressure.

Are There Different Types of Dialysis?
Yes, there are two types of dialysis-hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Are There Any Other Options to Treat Kidney Failure?
The only other way to maintain life after total kidney failure is a kidney transplant. Kidneys for transplant can come from a cadaver or living-related or living unrelated donors. Living donors are most often parents, siblings, sons or daughters of the person with kidney disease. Only 20 percent of people in Michigan who need a kidney transplant have an eligible related donor.

Kidney Transplantation
What if I Do Not Have a Living-Related Donor?
A kidney for transplant can come from an living unrelated donor. Otherwise, the patient must go on the national waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor..

How Many People Waiting for a Kidney Transplant in Michigan Get One?
There are 2,261 Michigan patients waiting for a kidney transplant as of January 1, 2006. There were 571 kidney transplants performed in Michigan in 2005, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (optn.org).

Organ and Tissue Donation
How are Organs and Tissues for Transplantation Obtained?
Generally, donated organs are matched with individuals on the national organ transplant waiting list. Matching is based on a variety of factors including blood and tissue types, medical need, length of time on the waiting list and weight of donor and recipient.

How are Donated Organs Distributed?
Generally, donated organs are matched with individuals on an organ waiting list. Matching is based on a variety of factors including blood and tissue types, medical need, length of time on the waiting list and weight of donor and recipient.

Who Can Become an Organ or Tissue Donor?
Everyone has the potential to become a donor. There is no age limit, and often those with a history of medical illness are still able to donate.
Medical evaluation at the time of donation will determine which organs or tissues are transplantable. Those under age 18 may be able to donate with parental consent. It is important, however, that everyone who wants to be a donor expresses this wish to others in the family.

Do I have to Register as an Organ and Tissue Donor with Any Hospital or National Registry?
The best way to indicate your wish to donate is to sign up on the Gift of Life Organ, Tissue & Eye Donor Registry (giftoflifemichigan.org). The Donor Registry is searched upon every hospital death in Michigan, to determine if the deceased's donation wish is known. Public Act 67 of 2003 ensures that the donor's wish is paramount, with a signed document of gift (such as the Donor Registry). If there is no record of the deceased on the Donor Registry, their family may be offered the opportunity to donate organs and/or tissues.

How Else Can I Register to be an Organ Donor?
Beginning in January 2007, every applicant for a Michigan driver's license or state ID will be offered the opportunity to sign up on the Donor Registry, through the Michigan Secretary of State.

What is the Urgency to Find More Organ Donors?
77 U.S. patients receive an organ transplant every day, but 17 die daily waiting for an organ transplant that never comes.

Do I Have to Pay to be an Organ and Tissue Donor?
Donors and donor families never pay for any expenses associated with organ and tissue donation.

Does Organ and Tissue Donation Cause Any Disfigurement to the Donor?
Organ and tissue recovery are sterile surgical procedures wherein the body remains intact. Open casket funerals are still possible, if so desired.

How Does Organ and Tissue Donation Relate to Religious Beliefs?
Religious leaders of most denominations throughout the world favor organ and tissue donation and consider it the greatest humanitarian act. Gift of Life works with the donor's family to be inclusive of the family's wishes regarding religious customs.

Which Organs and Tissues can be Donated?
Kidneys, lungs, livers, hearts, pancreases, intestines, corneas, heart valves, bones, tendons and skin can all be recovered from deceased donors. If desired, a donor can specify which organs and tissues are to be donated. Living donors can donate a kidney, portion of a liver or portion of a lung.
For information on bone marrow donation, visit the National Marrow Donor Program at www.nmdp.org.

How Many People Can I Help if I Choose to Become an Organ and Tissue Donor?
Up to 80 people in need can benefit from one person's decision to be an organ and tissue donor.