Becoming a Living Donor and Living Donation

Become a Living Donor

In order to qualify as a living donor, an individual must be physically fit, in good general health and usually between 18-60 years of age. There are four ways to be a living donor:

1. Paired Exchange Donation
   A paired exchange donation involves two kidney donor/recipient pairs whose blood types are not compatible. The two recipients trade donors so that each recipient can receive a kidney with a compatible blood type. Once the evaluations of all donors and recipients are completed, the two kidney transplant operations are scheduled to occur simultaneously.
2. Related Living Donors
   Related living donors are healthy blood relatives of the potential recipient. They might be siblings, parents, children over the age of 18 or other blood relatives.
3. Non-Related Known Living Donors
   Non-Related Known Living Donors are healthy individuals emotionally close to, but not blood related to the intended recipient. These individuals are usually spouses, in-law relatives, co-workers or friends.
4. Altruistic Living Donors
   Altruistic (unknown, non-directed donation) living donors are not related to or known by the recipient. Their decision is purely selfless. This type of donation is also referred to as an anonymous, altruistic, altruistic stranger, stranger-to-stranger, and non-directed living donation.

Individuals who are interested in becoming non-directed donors should contact transplant centers in their area to discuss the possibility of becoming a donor. Living donations are arranged through the individual transplant centers, according to the criteria they have in place.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about living donation, visit Living Donors or Living Donors Online websites.  You may also contact one of the following transplant centers in Northeast Ohio:

• Cleveland Clinic 800-223-2273
• University Hospital Case Medical Center 216-844-3689
• Paired Donation Program

Living Donation… the Gift of Love.

A living donation is when a living person donates an organ or part of an organ to another person. There are five organs (or sections of organs) that may be donated:

1. A segment of liver
2. The lobe of one lung
3. A portion of a pancreas
4. A section of intestine
5. A kidney

The kidney is the most common organ given through living donation. Kidneys are also the most needed - more than 70% of those waiting for an organ transplant need a kidney.

Due to the critical shortage of deceased organ donors in the U.S., living donation may be the only alternative for individuals awaiting organ transplantation. In fact, the annual number of living kidney donors has exceeded the annual number of deceased kidney donors in the U.S. Transplanted organs from living donors have several advantages:

• Blood-related living donors reduce the risk of rejection since they are genetically similar to recipients.
• A kidney from a living donor usually functions immediately. Some non-living donor kidneys do not function as quickly, resulting in patient dialysis until the kidney starts up.
• Potential donors can be genetically tested prior to donation. Tests can help identify the donor who is most compatible with the recipient. The transplant can then take place at a time convenient for the donor, recipient and transplant center.

As with any surgical procedure, there are serious risks involved with living donation, so people should always discuss it with their doctor first.