National Kidney Registry

National Kidney Registry

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

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

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

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

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