Is there a Transplant?

[Michelle in KC]

Is there such a thing as a bladder transplant? I have been asked this so many times in the past 2 weeks by my friends that I'm truly beginning to wonder. Anyone have information on this? Thanks, Michelle in KC

[yvette]

yes and no. How's that for a definite maybe. I looked into it with a Dr. Atala who is in Boston. He and his staff were really very kind and took the time to explain why I would NOT be a candidate for his transplant procedure.

1st) his transplants are lab grown bladders. they are made from the patients' own bladder cells. IC patients are considered to have *defunct* cells. It was explained that another defective bladder would end up being created.

2nd) He deals only with children and that is where his expertise lies. To take me ( a grown woman) on as a patient would be unfair. Apparently the physiology, size and tissue is much different--I assumed this based on my conversation with his staff.

3rd) I never found out if his Lab grown bladder transplants were FDA approved yet. I only know of his documented success in transplant done with beagles.

My question cam after this conversation---why not grow me a bladder from my Mom or Dad's bladder cells???? Would they be considered as probable matches in terms of organ donation (whatever the organ may be)

[sanctuary]

I read your question about bladder transplants. My Urologist is the tops in this state and she said, "they don't do it any more since the IC will only "re-infect", any new bladder. The disease hits it again soon enough each time for all a person would have to go through." She also said, a bladder can be created from your own other body parts. The problem isn't transplanting or getting a new one. It's our disease that's in our body. If there was a better way, a transplant I would have done it by now. She assures me most Insurance wouldn't pay for it anyway, since it doesn't work in most cases. In fact, she said it's been about 20 years since most Urologist did that for IC. This is only her opinion, but I trust her knowledge in this matter and most others. Hope this helps, Sanctuary

[DebbieD]

Talking about Bladder Transplants.I have had my Urostomy for 18 years now! I had it Done at Duke University in Durham North Carolina. But Before I had that done. It was the last resort to come to. First they did sooooooooooo many cytos to Stretch Bladder. Then I had too many and the Bladder wall got real thin. Almost could see other organs through it. Then I had a Ceum-cysto-plastic Bladder made twice, which is Part Bowel and Part Bladder. That lasted about 2 years then I had a S3 nerve Block where they go in the Back and Cut the two main nerves that go to the Bladder to Block Pain. Well again it did not work! It last a Year . also at that Time Was doing self-cath every 15 minities. needless to say that hurt sooooo much. Then the Last resort was removing the Bladder. So They did the first one in December of 1984. I got Married in February of 1985! He then left the Ureatha in Tact just in Case we could do a Reversal. Well within another year at the end of the Ureatha I was trying to grow another Bladder. So had to back in and have that removed. Three Years afer that My ileo-loop Had a blockage so I had to have another ileo-conduit made. The cause of that one going bad was Lack of Oxgen gettting to it. Three years after that Another Blockage this Time at the opening of the Loop it was Block. Then in 1999 I had Another Blockage and this time they used my Transverse colon to make my loop! IC is a Grem and etas everting in its site. I am always dealing with Kindey infections. But that is part of this Deadly IC. So far in 2003 I have been in the Hopsital twice cause of Kidney Infections. But Life must go on. I did join a support Group. It was Great Thing to do then it got Boring cause I knew all about it.

Hope everyone has a Great Day
e-mail anytime.
ldurham@comcast.net
DebbieD

[Judith]

I rememeber hearing about growing new bladders and then transplanting them this past summer, but never heard further about it. I think that they are still working on perfecting it. To do a bladder transplant using someone elses bladder would mean taking anti-rejection drugs the rest of your life and being at risk for life threatening infections. Since the bladder is not considered a vital organ in that I mean one can still live without a bladder, whereas you can not sustain life without a heart,or at least one kidney for very long, doctors may feel that since there is an alternative, ie, an ostomy is available why put one's life at risk? It is nice to dream about though and who know maybe one day it will be an option. As for living with an ostomy I am very happy with mine. While I did encounter some difficulties since the surgery, not everyone has the types of problems that Debbie has had. Judith

[Kara]

I wish they did bladder transplants so we could all be saved with new bladders.....