Symptoms of Kidney expiration

Hi my son had a kidney transplant from a deceased donor almost 10 years ago. Can anyone suggest an article on what normally happens when the kidney has reached the end of it's life span?

[Thankujacob NKF Ambassador]

Hello I wasn’t able to find an article but I can tell you my experience. I had my first transplant for 20 years and when it starting to fail my creatinine slowing increased over time, I started showing protein in my urine and my GFR decreased. At 10 years it started showing signs of failure and they switched my medication and it lasted another 10 years.

[Drdetroit in reply to Thankujacob]

Hi, I'm 6 yrs post tranplant. What meds were you on & what didi they switch you to?

My creatinine has been increasing along with GFR decreasing. Also BK virus has started to come back, as my deceased donor had bk but I did not. Just had a biopsy & it showed slight rejection along with BK virus. Thanks

[Thankujacob NKF Ambassador in reply to Drdetroit]

This was i believe in 2005?? I was switched from cyclosporine to rapamune

[Drdetroit in reply to Thankujacob]

Thank you, have a great day

[Hidden in reply to Thankujacob]

That what I was expecting but his ultra sound showed a cyst or mass (not sure yet which it is). I didn't know if that was a common scenario to develop cysts when the kidney starts to fail. Just wanted to know all the different ways or signs of how it usually plays out.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I am 18 years post transplant from a cadaver donor. I have a consistent creatinine of 0.9. If the kidney transplant fails, your son would start to show signs of rejection. His creatinine would increase, would have protein in his urine and his gfr (shows filtration of blood) would decrease. These are all signs that would signal a problem with his transplant. There are other blood and urine tests that would help with this diagnosis.

Is he showing signs of rejection? Not sure why after 10 years you think this may be a problem.

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

His creatinine has been stable but his blood pressure went up so we did an ultrasound and they found a mass or a cyst. I didn't know if it was common to start getting cyst when it started to fail. His last urine test showed trace amount of protein for the first time ever. But that is probably from the cyst.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Just curious I guess, but was his cyst on his kidney or in his kidney? That may make a difference. I am hoping and praying for your son. I know it is "scary" when he may not be as stable as he has been.

Take care and please let us know how things are going? We are here for you!

[mtwskk]

Get tested for BK ASAP if not tested. Bk can slowly reject the kidney. It’s a simple blood test rule it out along with cv another virus. You son should be checked at his yearly appt. if he has one of these there he won’t feel it but the kidney will. His neph will change his meds until it goes away