Living Donation and Blood Pressure

[MNCrapps]

I am considering offering to be a live donor for my father who is about to go on dialysis. I am 50 years old and very healthy; however, whenever I have my blood pressure checked it is around 130-135/80 which I guess is technically categorized as stage 1 hypertension. It has been in this range for the last 30 years and I have never been diagnosed with hypertension or been put on any medication. I am concerned that my blood pressure may disqualify me as a live donor. Please let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance!

[LivingDonor2003 NKF Ambassador NKF Peer Mentor]

Your numbers are borderline high, the range has change over the years. I had high blood pressure when I donated, I was on a single medication and it was well controlled. Surprisingly a few years after donating I no longer needed any medication and still do not. Part of it was the job I was in at the time.

If there is any question about hypertension one of the tests that will be done is 18 or 24 blood pressure monitoring, I had that done twice. Basically you wear a cuff and carry a small device that measures and records during that time. When I had it done it was every 10 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes at night.

Can I assume by your screen name that you are in Minnesota? I grew up there and donated at Mayo in Rochester. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[MNCrapps in reply to LivingDonor2003]

Thanks for the information. I am encouraged to hear that high blood pressure would not necessarily rule me out, although I understand that every situation is unique. Yes, I am from MN; however, I currently live in TN. My parents still live in MN so if I were to donate, it would most likely be in MN. Do you know if the Mayo has an age limit on eligibility to qualify for a transplant? My dad is 74.

[LivingDonor2003 NKF Ambassador NKF Peer Mentor in reply to MNCrapps]

I am not sure about an age limit now. There are more factors that go into it than age now.

[marcyc NKF Ambassador NKF Peer Mentor]

As part of the donation evaluation, Most centers require a 24 hour blood pressure evaluation. You have a device that measures BP every 30 mins. That will help them determine if you are safe to donate. The previous person was correct, you can be considered if you are controlled on one Med. Check in with your transplant center. Best of luck.

[TeresaK13]

The first step in donating is to contact the transplant center where your father is registered. They will ask you to complete a questionnaire (sometimes they do it over the phone) that will determine if there are any red flags that would prevent you from donating. Hypertension will most likely make them pause, but only the transplant team working with you and your father can say for sure if it would exclude you.

A couple of things to consider:

1. If you are excluded, it is because the doctors feel it might compromise your health, now or in the future. Living donation is a wonderful, selfless thing to do, but no doctor wants to sacrifice your health for your recient’s.

2. Different transplant centers have different requirements. If you are turned down by one you might want to check with another.

3. If ultimately you find out that you cannot donate, you can still help your father. You can help him by being his advocate in finding another living donor. The NKF has a new national program called the Big Ask/The Big Give. It is a seminar that teaches kidney patients and their families how to go about finding a living donor. Here is a link that gives more information on living donation and the BA/BG seminar.

kidney.org/transplantation/...

[Cindy2018 in reply to TeresaK13]

Yes! Especially to #1. You have to put your own health first and trust that if you are denied it’s for good reason. Your blood pressure will very likely go up after donation.

To #2. Does no one else think this is bonkers?? How are there no universal guidelines?

[MNCrapps]

Excellent information. Thank you!

[Lizzyfrompa]

Your blood pressure seems very normal to me. Try calling another hospital transplant team and ask them or your family doctor. If it’s high they would have put you in blood pressure pills. That surely shouldn’t disqualify you from giving.