Editing Kidney transplantation (section)

===Contraindications for kidney recipients===
Contraindications to receive a kidney transplant include both [[Heart failure|cardiac]] and [[pulmonary insufficiency]], as well as hepatic disease and some cancers. Concurrent [[tobacco use]] and [[morbid obesity]] are also among the indicators putting a patient at a higher risk for [[surgical]] complications.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Kidney transplant requirements vary from program to program and country to country. Many programs place limits on age (e.g. the person must be under a certain age to enter the waiting list) and require that one must be in good health (aside from kidney disease).  Significant [[cardiovascular disease]], incurable terminal infectious diseases and [[cancer]] are often transplant exclusion criteria.  In addition, candidates are typically screened to determine if they will be compliant with their medications, which is essential for survival of the transplant.  People with [[mental illness]] and/or significant ongoing [[substance abuse]] issues may be excluded.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

HIV was at one point considered to be a complete contraindication to transplantation.  There was fear that [[immunosuppressing]] someone with a depleted immune system would result in the progression of the disease.  However, some research seem to suggest that [[immunosuppressive drug]]s and [[antiretrovirals]] may work [[Synergy#Drug synergy|synergistically]] to help both [[HIV]] [[viral load]]s/[[CD4]] cell counts and prevent active rejection.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}