Objectives Students should learn:• that a kidney transplant involves the replacement of a diseased

kidney by a healthy one from a donor• that precautions need to be taken to prevent the rejection of

the transplanted kidney by the immune system• that there are advantages and disadvantages of kidney

transplants vs Dialysis

Outcomes Most students should be able to:• replaced by a healthy one explain the problems of rejection by

the immune system• list the ways in which rejection is prevented• list the advantages and disadvantages of having a kidney

transplant.Some students should also be able to:• evaluate in detail the advantages and disadvantages of treating

kidney failure by dialysis or kidney transplant• explain the issues of rejection and the advantages of close

tissue matches for success.

Specification • In kidney transplants, a diseased kidney is replaced with a healthy one from

a donor. However, the donor kidney may be rejected by the immune system unless precautions are taken. [B3.3.1 g)]

• Antigens are proteins on the surface of cells. The recipient’s antibodies may attack the antigens on the donor organ as they do not recognise them as part of the recipient’s body. [B3.3.1 h)]

• To prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney:• a donor kidney with a ‘tissue-type’ similar to that of the recipient is used• the recipient is treated with drugs that suppress the immune system. [B3.3.1 i)]

• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of treating kidney failure by dialysis or kidney transplant.

• Controlled Assessment: B4.5 Analyse and interpret primary and secondary data. [B4.5.1a) b)], [B4.5.4 b) c)]

KIDNEY TRANSPLANTSp.252-3

Workbook homework

• p. 117-8

Labelling the kidney

Kidney transplantsanswer questions from the sheet using p.252-253

1. What is a transplant?2. Who receives the transplant?3. Who gives the kidney?4. What are on the surface of the cells of the donated kidney?5. Why is this a risk to the recipient?6. How can rejection be minimised? (2)

Transplants

Pros• Immunosuppressant

drugs are cheap compared to dialysis

• Doesn’t have to make as regular trips to hospital e.g. can go on holiday

Cons• Wait for a donor can be a

long time• Kidney transplant can be

rejected• Take lots of

immunosuppressant drugs

• Need a new transplant after, say, 10 years

Kidney transplant data

Transplants Vs Dialysis• Worksheet on the economics• Produce a table of pros and cons (Q3 p.253)

Answers to questions

1. £350M spent on transplants (17,500x£20,000)

2. Annual cost to the country:Dialysis – 1 year = £30,000 x 10 = £300,000

Transplant – 1 year = £20,000 + (£6500x10) = £85,000

3. Next slide for table

Comparing dialysis and transplantsDialysis Transplants

Machines available Need donor – often not available

No problem with tissue matching

Need tissue match

2x a week at least for life Surgery every 10 years or more

Expensive long term After surgery relatively low cost of medicine

Always have to watch diet

Can lead to relatively normal life

Kidney snakes and ladders• Decide whether the

statement is ‘good’ (ladder) or ‘bad’ (snake)

• Draw an appropriate sized snake or ladder and copy the statement onto it

• Colour transplants in one colour and dialysis in another

• Play your game!

Dialysis • Long term cost high• Risk of infection with each dialysis• Not as effective as a transplant• Get connected easily as lots of dialysis machines

available (compared to donated kidneys)• Eat a fried breakfast whilst dialysing• Between dialysis strict breakfast is needed• It hurts the arm• Dialysis needed 2 or 3 times a week

Transplants • Need a new transplant after 10 years• Wait for a donor can be a long time• Kidney transplant rejected• Take lots of immunosuppressant drugs• Transplant helps you to lead a normal life• Immunosuppressant drugs are relatively cheap• Doesn’t have to make as regular trips to hospital e.g.

can go on holiday• Find a donor with same tissue type

Multiple-choice quiz