In the face of kidney disease, the need to develop kidney transplants
Published on 5 March 2021
As part of World Kidney Day, the Agence de la biomédecine would like to remind everyone that kidney transplantation is the treatment that offers the best results in terms of life expectancy and quality of life for patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. To meet patients' needs, the Agence encourages the development of all sources of parallel transplants.
From kidney disease to end-stage renal failure
Nearly 10% of the population is thought to be affected, in one way or another, by chronic kidney disease, i.e. more than 6 million French people. The number of people living with severe chronic kidney disease at the suppléation stage was 89692 at the end of 2018, of whom 49271 patients were being treated by dialysis and 40421 patients were kidney transplant recipients. In 2020, there were 2,591 kidney transplants, including 385 thanks to living donation. Since the beginning of 2020, the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic has had an impact on organ procurement and transplantation activity in France. The Agence de la biomédecine is doing everything in its power, alongside healthcare professionals and patient associations, to maintain access to transplants under optimal health safety conditions, despite the difficult context created by the pandemic.
What is end-stage renal disease?
Kidney failure is the consequence of the progression of diseases that destroy the kidneys, such as diabetes, hypertension or glomerulonephritis (glomeruli = blood filtration unit). The kidneys can then no longer perform their purification function. Some patients progress gradually (usually over several years) from renal failure to chronic renal failure, with the appearance of permanent kidney damage. End-stage renal disease is the final stage of chronic renal failure. The loss of kidney function is such that the person's life is in danger if left untreated.