Care of the renal transplant recipient in the emergency department

End-stage renal disease is becoming more common in the United States because of the aging of the population and the increased prevalence of predisposing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. This article reviews the medical problems that might bring renal transplant recipients to the emergency department, the information emergency physicians should be aware of in evaluating and treating these patients, and the critical importance of close communication between emergency and transplant physicians in treating them.