Kidney Transplant

The UCLA Health Kidney Transplant Program is one of the longest-running, most exceptional programs of its kind in the country.

Why choose UCLA Health for kidney transplant?

The specialists in the Kidney Transplant Program at UCLA Health are among the most experienced in the country. Their expertise means that our adult and pediatric patients benefit from some of the best outcome rates in the nation.

We provide expert care for all patients, including those with complex conditions. Additional highlights of our program include:

High volume: Our program treats the most patients in the nation, performing hundreds of kidney transplants each year. Since our program began in 1965, our surgeons have performed more than 8,000 kidney transplants. Treating a high volume of patients means our specialists and support teams have a wealth of experience.

Exceptional outcomes: Our outcomes and survival rates have been consistently higher than the national average for nearly 20 years. These numbers are especially impressive, because, as a referral center, we constantly see patients with the most complex diseases.

Access to kidney transplant specialists: In 2015, we opened our own Connie Frank Kidney Transplant Center. This clinical location provides patient access to the kidney transplant team, as well as our own phlebotomy and infusion center.

Lifetime care: We are one of the only kidney transplant programs that provides care from birth through adulthood. When we use living donor transplants, patients of all ages can be seen in the same facility, which can help make recovery smoother and less stressful for families. We even have a special program to help children transition seamlessly to adult care.

Team approach: We use a collaborative model that has served as a guide for other programs. We were one of the first programs to incorporate nephrology and urology specialties, working in unison to treat advanced kidney disease.

Treatment for complex conditions: We are experts in caring for all types of diseases. We can perform transplants even if your condition impacts multiple organs. For example, we are uniquely skilled in kidney-pancreas transplant.

Our areas of care

We offer a variety of transplant options to ensure that each patient receives the most appropriate care. Our areas of care include:

Adult kidney transplants: We are one of the country’s largest kidney transplant programs, and have exceptional outcome rates to match our high volumes. We are a leading referral center and continually treat patients with the most complex diseases.

Pediatric kidney transplants: Our Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program consistently leads the nation in both volume and outcomes. We have one of the highest 3-year graft and patient survival rates in the country, which far exceeds the national average.

Living donor kidney transplants: Living donor transplants tend to offer more immediate function and may last longer. We offer adult and pediatric transplants in one facility, meaning the living donor and the recipient receive care from the same expert team. This enhances recovery and makes the experience less stressful for adults and children alike.

Kidney exchange: Our Kidney Exchange Program increases the chances that you can find the right donor match. With kidney exchange, your donor gives a kidney to a compatible match, and you receive a kidney from a donor who is compatible with you.

Conditions we treat

Common conditions we treat include:

Kidney disease (renal disease): When your kidneys cannot filter your blood as effectively as they should.

Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease): When your body can no longer filter toxins and remove waste from your blood.

Kidney failure is the primary reason that someone may need a kidney transplant. Some conditions that can lead to kidney failure include:

Chronic glomerulonephritis: Ongoing inflammation and scarring in the small filters in your kidneys, called glomeruli.
Diabetes: A condition that affects how your body processes carbohydrates, which can result in high blood sugar (glucose).
Polycystic kidney disease: A disorder that causes cysts to grow in your kidneys.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension): When the force of your blood against your artery walls is chronically too high.

Treatments we offer

Many of the treatments we offer were established here and have since been adopted by other programs around the world. Treatments we offer include:

Living donor transplant: These transplants involve removing a healthy kidney from a living donor and transplanting it to a recipient. The living donor is often a close friend or relative, but anyone who is healthy can donate a kidney.

Transplant for patients with sensitized immune systems: Thanks to our participation in research and clinical trials, we can use specialized medications to help patients with weak immune systems successfully accept a kidney transplant.

Transplant with hepatitis C and HIV: Our specialists have the expertise to perform transplants for patients with complex or advanced diseases, including hepatitis C and HIV.

Our expert team

Our kidney transplant surgeons and physicians are some of the most skilled in the country for kidney transplants. They care for patients, lead clinical trials and train the next generation of clinical leaders.