National Kidney Registry: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:14, 15 February 2025

National Kidney Registry[edit]

Logo of the National Kidney Registry

The National Kidney Registry (NKR) is a non-profit organization in the United States that facilitates kidney transplantation through a paired exchange program. The NKR aims to increase the number of living donor kidney transplants by matching donors and recipients who are incompatible with each other to other pairs in the same situation.

History[edit]

The National Kidney Registry was founded in 2007 by Garet Hil, whose daughter was in need of a kidney transplant. The organization was established to address the challenges faced by patients who have willing but incompatible donors. Since its inception, the NKR has become one of the largest paired exchange programs in the world.

Paired Exchange Program[edit]

The NKR's paired exchange program allows for a "swap" of kidneys between incompatible donor-recipient pairs. For example, if Donor A is incompatible with Recipient A, and Donor B is incompatible with Recipient B, but Donor A is compatible with Recipient B and Donor B is compatible with Recipient A, a swap can occur. This process is known as a "kidney paired donation" (KPD).

Advanced Donation Program[edit]

The NKR also offers an Advanced Donation Program (ADP), which allows donors to donate their kidney before their intended recipient is ready to receive a transplant. This program helps to facilitate more transplants by allowing for greater flexibility in timing and matching.

Benefits of the NKR[edit]

The National Kidney Registry provides several benefits to patients and donors, including:

Increased Transplant Opportunities: By participating in a larger pool of donor-recipient pairs, patients have a higher chance of finding a compatible match.
Shorter Wait Times: The NKR's efficient matching process can reduce the time patients spend on the kidney transplant waiting list.
Improved Outcomes: The NKR's matching algorithms are designed to optimize donor-recipient compatibility, leading to better transplant outcomes.

Challenges[edit]

Despite its success, the NKR faces challenges such as logistical complexities in coordinating transplants across multiple centers and ensuring equitable access to the program for all patients.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''National Kidney Registry''' (NKR) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that facilitates living donor [[kidney transplant]]s. The registry was established to address the critical shortage of available organs and to improve the outcomes of kidney transplant surgeries. By utilizing a sophisticated matching system, the NKR aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of living donor transplants.
+== National Kidney Registry ==
-==Overview==
+[[File:NKR-logo.png|thumb|right|Logo of the National Kidney Registry]]
-The National Kidney Registry's primary mission is to save and improve the lives of people facing [[kidney failure]] by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants in the U.S. It operates by coordinating with hospitals, transplant centers, and donors to facilitate kidney exchanges, also known as "kidney swaps."
-==History==
+The '''National Kidney Registry''' (NKR) is a non-profit organization in the United States that facilitates [[kidney transplantation]] through a paired exchange program. The NKR aims to increase the number of living donor kidney transplants by matching donors and recipients who are incompatible with each other to other pairs in the same situation.
-The NKR was founded in response to the growing need for kidney transplants and the limitations of the existing system to meet this demand. Since its inception, the registry has grown significantly and has facilitated thousands of transplants, becoming one of the leading organizations in the field.
-==How It Works==
+== History ==
-The process begins when a potential donor is incompatible with their intended recipient. The NKR's matching system then searches for a chain of donors and recipients that can accommodate multiple transplants. This innovative approach, known as a "paired exchange," allows for a larger number of successful transplants by matching donors to recipients who are compatible.
-==Benefits==
+The National Kidney Registry was founded in 2007 by Garet Hil, whose daughter was in need of a kidney transplant. The organization was established to address the challenges faced by patients who have willing but incompatible donors. Since its inception, the NKR has become one of the largest paired exchange programs in the world.
-The benefits of the National Kidney Registry include:
-* Increased access to kidney transplants for patients with renal failure.
-* Improved transplant outcomes due to better matching and shorter wait times.
-* The facilitation of larger chains of transplants, maximizing the number of lives saved.
-==Challenges==
+== Paired Exchange Program ==
-Despite its successes, the NKR faces challenges such as:
-* The ongoing shortage of available organs for transplant.
-* The logistical complexities of coordinating multi-center kidney exchanges.
-* Ensuring equitable access to transplants for all patients, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status.
-==Future Directions==
+The NKR's paired exchange program allows for a "swap" of kidneys between incompatible donor-recipient pairs. For example, if Donor A is incompatible with Recipient A, and Donor B is incompatible with Recipient B, but Donor A is compatible with Recipient B and Donor B is compatible with Recipient A, a swap can occur. This process is known as a "kidney paired donation" (KPD).
-The National Kidney Registry continues to innovate in the field of transplant coordination. Future directions include the use of advanced algorithms for matching, expanding the pool of potential donors, and working to reduce barriers to living donation.
-[[Category:Health organizations]]
+=== Advanced Donation Program ===
-[[Category:Transplantation medicine]]
-[[Category:Kidney diseases]]
-{{Organ-transplant-stub}}
+The NKR also offers an Advanced Donation Program (ADP), which allows donors to donate their kidney before their intended recipient is ready to receive a transplant. This program helps to facilitate more transplants by allowing for greater flexibility in timing and matching.
-{{No image}}
+== Benefits of the NKR ==
+The National Kidney Registry provides several benefits to patients and donors, including:
+* '''Increased Transplant Opportunities''': By participating in a larger pool of donor-recipient pairs, patients have a higher chance of finding a compatible match.
+* '''Shorter Wait Times''': The NKR's efficient matching process can reduce the time patients spend on the [[kidney transplant waiting list]].
+* '''Improved Outcomes''': The NKR's matching algorithms are designed to optimize donor-recipient compatibility, leading to better transplant outcomes.
+== Challenges ==
+Despite its success, the NKR faces challenges such as logistical complexities in coordinating transplants across multiple centers and ensuring equitable access to the program for all patients.
+== Related pages ==
+* [[Kidney transplantation]]
+* [[Organ donation]]
+* [[Living donor]]
+* [[Paired exchange]]
+[[Category:Organ donation]]
+[[Category:Kidney transplantation]]
+[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States]]