Psychosocial Issues in Renal Transplantation

There are at least five major factors which interact to determine the success and longevity of a renal transplant. These factors include the health of the recipient, the quality of the donor kidney, immunologic factors, the competency of the transplant team, and the psychosocial milieu in which the recipient lives. Specific algorithms have been published to evaluate the medical suitability of an individual to be a transplant recipient. Unfortunately the psychosocial evaluation of potential renal transplant candidates often plays a lesser role in the decision on whether or not to list a renal transplant candidate. Despite transplanting the ideal donor kidney into a healthy recipient, long-term success is not assured. There are a myriad of psychosocial factors which can alter the path to long-term success.