O

Organ Procurement:

The removal or retrieval of organs and tissues for transplantation.

Oxalate: 

A chemical that combines with calcium in urine to form the most common type of kidney stone (calcium oxalate stone).

P

Panel Reactive Antibody (PRA)

The percentage of cells from a panel of donors with which a potential recipient's blood serum reacts. The more antibodies in the recipient's blood, the more likely the recipient will react against the potential donor. The higher the PRA, the less chance of receiving an organ that will not be rejected. A patient with a PRA of 80% means that they will reject 80% of donor kidneys. Patients with a high PRA have priority on the waiting list.

Procurement:

The act of recovering a donated organ or tissue.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): 

An inherited disorder characterized by many grape-like clusters of fluid-filled cysts that make both kidneys larger over time. These cysts take over and destroy working kidney tissue. PKD may cause chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease.

Proteinuria: 

The presence of protein in the urine, indicating that the kidneys are not working properly.

R

Rejection:

Rejection occurs when the body tries to destroy a transplanted organ or tissue because it sees the organ or tissue as a foreign object and produces antibodies to destroy it. Anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) drugs help prevent rejection.

Renal:

Of the kidneys. A renal disease is a disease of the kidneys. Renal failure means the kidneys have stopped working properly.

Renal Cysts: 

Abnormal fluid-filled sacs in the kidney that range in size from microscopic to much larger. Many simple cysts are harmless, while other types can seriously damage the kidneys.

Renin::

A hormone made by the kidneys that helps regulate the volume of fluid in the body and blood pressure.

S

Sensitized:

When a potential recipient has antibodies in their blood, usually because of pregnancy, blood transfusions, or previous rejection of an organ transplant. Sensitization is measured by panel reactive antibody (PRA). Highly sensitized patients are less likely to match with a suitable donor and more likely to reject an organ than non-sensitized patients.

T

Tissue Typing:

A blood test done to evaluate how closely the tissues of the donor match those of the recipient (done before the transplant). Done on all donors and recipients in kidney transplants to help match the donor to the most suitable recipient.

Transplant:

Replacement of a diseased organ with a healthy one. Kidney transplant may come from a living donor, usually a relative, or from someone who has just died.

U

Ultrasound: 

A technique that bounces safe, painless sound waves off organs to create an image of their structure.

Urea: 

A waste product found in the blood and caused by the normal breakdown of protein in the liver. Urea is normally removed from the blood by the kidneys and then excreted in the urine. Urea accumulates in the body of people with renal failure.

Uremia: 

The illness associated with the buildup of urea in the blood because the kidneys are not working effectively. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, and mental confusion.

Ureters:

Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Urethra:

The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

Urinalylsis:

A test of a urine sample that can reveal many problems of the urinary system and other body systems. The sample may be observed for color, cloudiness, concentration; signs of drug use; chemical composition, including sugar; the presence of protein, blood cells, or germs; or other signs of disease.

Urinary Tract:

The system that takes wastes from the blood and carries them out of the body in the form of urine. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, renal pelvises, ureters, bladder, and urethra.