[Renal transplantation, for whom, why and how ?]

Chronic kidney disease is a gradual and irreversible decrease in the functioning of the kidneys, which no longer filter the body's blood properly. The main causes are diabetes and high blood pressure. With the aging of the population, it is a disease whose incidence is increasing. In the terminal stage of the disease, treatment of replacement of the renal function is necessary (by hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation). Currently, kidney transplantation is the best replacement treatment for kidney function, because it is more efficient than dialysis in terms of survival, quality of life and cost to the health system. But it requires the maintenance and monitoring of immunosuppressive therapy. In France, kidney transplants are mainly from deceased donors or from living donors. Kidney transplantation is a scheduled surgery when the transplant is from a living donor, and an emergency when the transplant is from a deceased donor. The surgical technique is standardized and consists of suturing the artery and vein of the transplant onto the recipient's iliac vessels and the ureter in the bladder, through an ilio-inguinal incision. The average survival time of a transplant is 10 years and some patients may receive 1, 2, 3 or more kidney transplants in succession during their lifetime.