doctor can treat with various medications. The
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY that is necessary for
organ transplant recipients to take lowers the
body’s overall immune response, lowering resist-
ance to infection. IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MEDICATIONS
have numerous other side effects as well. People
who take long-term immunosuppressive therapy
do have an increased risk for LYMPHOMA, a type of
cancer that affects the lymph nodes.
Outlook and Lifestyle Modifications
Most people who receive transplanted kidneys feel
better immediately after surgery and enjoy rela-
tively normal lifestyles after recovering from sur-
gery; however, they must continue taking
immunosuppressive medications and receive regu-
lar medical checkups to monitor the health of
their transplanted kidneys. Doctors generally rec-
ommend that people who have transplanted kid-
neys avoid activities with increased risk for blunt
trauma to the abdomen, such as contact sports.
The doctor may further recommend specific
dietary and lifestyle modifications to maintain
optimal kidney function.
See also ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION; SURGERY BENEFIT
AND RISK ASSESSMENT.204 The Urinary System