Doctor: Does living kidney donation increase my risk for cardiovascular disease?

Living kidney donors serve as a valuable lifeline to their loved ones, friends and even strangers when they donate a kidney to a patient with end-stage kidney disease. To allow a healthy individual to undergo a major surgical procedure that is not indicated for their own health and imparts short and long term risks, rules and protections were developed for the evaluation, care and follow-up of living kidney donors.1 To date, living donation has been relatively safe, yet there are risks, and follow-up remains relatively short with much to be learned.