system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 45-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of worsening fatigue, loss of appetite, itching of the skin, and progressive leg swelling. Although she has been drinking 2–3 L of water daily, she has been passing only small amounts of urine. She has type 1 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetic polyneuropathy. Her current medications include insulin, torasemide, lisinopril, and synthetic erythropoietin. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98°F), pulse is 87/min, and blood pressure is 138/89 mm Hg. She appears pale. There is 2+ pitting edema in the lower extremities. Sensation to pinprick and light touch is decreased over the feet and legs bilaterally. Laboratory studies show:
Hemoglobin 11.4 g/dL
Leukocyte count 6000/mm3
Platelet count 280,000/mm3
Serum
Na+ 137 mEq/L
K+ 5.3 mEq/L
Cl− 100 mEq/L
HCO3− 20 mEq/L
Urea nitrogen 85 mg/dL
Creatinine 8 mg/dL
pH 7.25
Which of the following long-term treatments would best improve quality of life and maximize survival in this patient?"
assistant
Living donor kidney transplant