Department of Kidney and Pancreas Health Center: Home

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh (KFSH&RC-R), is recognized internationally for its world-class facility, latest medical technology and equipment, experienced and professional doctors and health care providers, and excellent medical care. KFSH&RC-R opened in 1975 and is located close to Riyadh’s city center. The hospital has reached an international standard of excellence equivalent to that of leading global academic medical centers. KFSH&RC-R focuses primarily on research in the field of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, transplant immunology, genetics, molecular diagnostics, and proteomics. The facility has maintained the highest standards in specialized medical care in an integrated educational and research environment.

Department of Adult Critical Care Medicine

Department of Autism Centre

Department of Anesthesiology

Department of Dentistry

Department of Dermatology

Heart Center of Excellence Department

Department of Kidney and Pancreas Health Center

Department of Liver & Small Bowel Health Center

Department of Lung Transplant Health Care Centre

Department of Medical Genetic

Kidney, and Pancreas Health Center (KPHC)

Organ Transplant Center of Excellence (OTCoE)

The Kidney and Pancreas Health Center (KPHC) at King Faisal Hospital, Riyadh is a leading center in renal and pancreas transplantation, performing approximately 500 kidney transplants and 5–10 kidney-pancreas transplants annually. The center provides comprehensive follow-up care for over 5,000 transplant recipients through its outpatient services. Also serves as the primary renal consultation for solid organ transplant patients, the Transplant Nephrology team ensures expert management at every stage of the transplant journey. The Department library will ensure access to all departmental protocols, journal publications by department members and up-to-date access to transplant knowledge. King Faisal Hospital’s Transplant Nephrology, Kidney, and Pancreas Health Center remains committed to exceptional patient care, pioneering research, and the education of future leaders in transplantation medicine.

Scope of Services

Kidney and Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation

• Preoperative evaluation and preparation of recipients and donors.
• Immediate postoperative management, including immunosuppressive therapy and transplant induction.
• Diagnosis and treatment of delayed graft function.
• Post-transplant dialytic management.

Primary Renal Transplant Services

• Management of rejection using immunosuppressive and adjunctive therapies (e.g., plasmapheresis).
• Treatment of surgical and non-surgical complications, including acute and chronic graft dysfunction.
• Diagnosis and management of infectious and non-infectious post-transplant complications.
• Long-term follow-up addressing hematologic, cardiovascular, and metabolic concerns.
• Training general nephrology fellows in transplant care.

Transplant Nephrology Consultation

• Evaluation for combined kidney and multi-organ transplants.
• Management of allograft dysfunction and immunosuppressive therapy in critically ill patients.
• Coordination of immunosuppressive care for kidney transplant patients admitted to non-medicine services.

Outpatient Services

• Develop diagnostic, consultative, therapeutic, and follow-up care plans.
• Graft function evaluation, immunosuppressive therapy, and transplant-related complications.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of potential transplant recipients and living kidney donors.

Clinics

• Staffed by transplant nephrologists, renal transplant fellows, and transplant coordinators.

Meetings and Conferences

• Biweekly Selection Committee – Case discussions for transplant candidates.
• Weekly Core Lecture – Updates in transplant nephrology.
• Weekly Educational Lecture – Training sessions for fellows.

For an initial examination, general and important information about the kidneys includes their vital functions, common risk factors and symptoms of kidney disease, and the standard tests used to check kidney health. 

General overview of the kidneys

• Location and anatomy: The kidneys are a pair of fist-sized, bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage.
• Primary function: They act as the body's main filtration system. Healthy kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to create urine.
• Hormone production: The kidneys also act as endocrine organs, producing crucial hormones:
  • Renin helps regulate blood pressure.
  • Erythropoietin stimulates the production of red blood cells.
  • Calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D) helps maintain healthy bones.
• Fluid and mineral balance: They maintain a healthy balance of fluids, salts (like sodium and potassium), and minerals in the blood. 

Common risk factors for kidney disease

Kidney disease can be caused by other health conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. The most significant risk factors include: 

• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage the tiny filtering units (glomeruli) in the kidneys.
• High blood pressure (hypertension): Elevated blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys over time.
• Family history: A family history of kidney disease increases your risk.
• Obesity: Being overweight or obese puts extra stress on the kidneys.
• Advanced age: The risk of developing kidney disease increases with age. 

Initial signs and symptoms

In its early stages, kidney disease often has no symptoms. As kidney damage progresses, a patient may notice the following: 

• Swelling in the feet, ankles, and hands (edema)
• Fatigue or feeling tired
• Foamy urine (a sign of excess protein)
• Blood in the urine
• More frequent urination, especially at night
• Itchy, dry skin
• Muscle cramps
• Poor appetite or nausea 

Key diagnostic tools

A combination of tests is used to assess kidney health: 

• Blood tests:
  • Serum Creatinine and eGFR: A high level of the waste product creatinine indicates that the kidneys are not filtering efficiently. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is calculated from the creatinine level and is the best overall measure of kidney function. An eGFR below 60 for three months or longer suggests chronic kidney disease.
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Measures the amount of a waste product called urea nitrogen in the blood.
• Urine tests:
  • Urinalysis: A general test that checks for blood, protein, and other substances in the urine.
  • Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR): An early indicator of kidney damage, as healthy kidneys do not allow a significant amount of albumin (a protein) to leak into the urine.
• Imaging tests (e.g., Ultrasound): A kidney ultrasound is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create images of the kidneys and bladder. It can reveal abnormalities in size or shape, blockages, or the presence of cysts, tumors, or kidney stones.
• Kidney biopsy: For a more definitive diagnosis, a small tissue sample is sometimes removed from the kidney and examined under a microscope.