This research study is being done to determine whether it is safe to give a kidney transplant from a donor with hepatitis C to a patient without hepatitis C. This study is looking for participants in need of a kidney transplant who are willing to accept a kidney from a patient with hepatitis C.
Kidney donation from a living donor provides the kidney recipient with the best chance of a longterm survival of the transplanted kidney. White End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients are 4 times more likely to recieve a living donor kidney than are African American (AA) ESRD patients. There are many reasons for this disparity in obtaining the benefits of living donation for AAs, including lack of knowledge regarding the living donation process. This study will provide a web-based educational intervention to overcome this knowledge deficiency with the hope that there will be an increase in patient interest in living donation which will result in more living donation kidney transplant inquiries by patients' family or friends.
Expression of APOL1 gene variants have been associated with higher likelihood of end stage renal disease in African Americans. In addition, kidney transplant recipients who have received a donated kidney from an African American expressing APOL1 variants have poorer outcomes with earlier transplanted kidney failure. This study will examine the occurance of the APOL1 gene variants in all African American donated kidneys, deceased and living, and African American recipients and recipients of African American donated kidneys, and to correlate the expression of these variants with outcome of the transplanted kidney and the kidney function of African American living donors. Samples of patients blood and urine will be acquired to measure the expression of the APOLO1 gene variants and associated kidney function, respectively.
Live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) offers the most optimal survival and quality
of life benefit for those with late-stage chronic kidney disease. However, one-third of potential donors who volunteer to undergo evaluation on behalf of an intended recipient are blood-type or cross-match incompatibility. Kidney paired donation (KPD) was developed as a strategy to provide these incompatible donor-recipient pairs with an innovative opportunity for LDKT, yet its uptake by potential donors and their intended LDKT recipients is not optimal. In this study, we will evaluate the
effectiveness of a targeted video intervention designed to address common concerns
about KPD on the knowledge of KPD risks and benefits, KPD self-efficacy, and KPD
concerns in incompatible potential donors and their intended recipients.