Nieruitruilprogrammas

Nieruitruilprogrammas, also known as kidney exchange programs or paired kidney exchange programs, are a method used to facilitate kidney transplants for individuals whose potential living donors are incompatible with them. These programs operate on the principle of a chain reaction of donations.

When a donor is medically suitable but immunologically incompatible with their intended recipient, they can be entered into a kidney exchange registry. If another incompatible donor-recipient pair is found where the donor is compatible with the original recipient, and the original recipient's donor is compatible with the other recipient, an exchange can occur. This creates a "paired donation" or "swap."

These exchanges can involve just two pairs, forming a direct swap. However, they can also extend into longer chains involving three, four, or even more pairs. In a chain, Donor A gives to Recipient B, Donor B gives to Recipient C, and so on, until the last donor in the chain gives to the first recipient. This "non-directed" or "altruistic" donation at the end of a chain makes the entire chain possible.

Kidney exchange programs significantly expand the pool of potential living donors and recipients, offering hope to many who might otherwise face long waits on the deceased donor list or be unable to receive a transplant at all. They require complex logistical coordination, including donor and recipient matching, surgical scheduling, and post-operative care, often managed by specialized transplant centers and coordinating organizations.