Key facts
- A 25-year-old Chinese woman donated her kidney to her husband.
- The husband suffers from congenital megaureter and uremia.
- The transplant success rate for non-blood relatives is typically 5%-10%.
- The surgery took place at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.
- Both husband and wife have recovered well and are expected to be discharged soon.
A young Chinese couple has undergone a successful kidney transplant, with the wife donating an organ to her husband who was suffering from uremia. Liang, 25, voluntarily donated her left kidney to her husband, Chung, 33, at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University on September 11. Chung suffers from congenital megaureter, a condition present from birth that involves an abnormally enlarged ureter, which led to kidney failure and uremia. He had been undergoing regular hemodialysis three times a week, which had significantly impacted his health and mood. The couple had explored options for a kidney transplant, but the scarcity of suitable donors, particularly for Chung's O-type blood, meant a potential wait of 5-10 years with less than a 20% chance of receiving a donor kidney within five years. Facing the risk of Chung's condition worsening, Liang decided to donate one of her kidneys, despite the typically low success rate of 5%-10% for transplants between unrelated spouses. After thorough medical evaluation and ethical review, Liang was deemed a suitable donor, and the transplant was successfully performed. Both individuals have recovered well, with Chung's kidney function returning to normal, allowing him to discontinue dialysis. The couple is expected to be discharged soon.