The Clinical Evaluation of the Renal Transplant Candidate

The clinical evaluation of the renal transplant candidate is a complex medical procedure. Itsfinal goal is to select the patients in whom renal transplantation is likely to improve the clinicaloutcome. Potential candidate should be referred to the transplant center within six months from theonset of dialysis. The first step of the evaluation is to identify those conditions such as active alcohol ordrug abuse, cancer, infections which may represent a major barrier to a successful transplant. If present,they should be removed before any further step in the evaluation process. Special attention should befocused on the detection of any active neoplastic disease and an adequate disease free interval,generally between 2 and 5 years, should be allowed prior to transplant. Similarly, careful evaluation andtreatment of any active infectious disease should be undertaken prior to transplant. Cardiovasculardiseases represent the major cause of death in patients with renal failure as well as in transplantrecipients. Their detection and treatment in the evaluation process greatly improve the clinical outcomeof the transplant recipients.