New kidney transplant procedure utilizes bone marrow

A new kidney transplant procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow during surgery may help eliminate more than half of the post-transplant medication a patient is require to take, according to WCTV.TV.com.

In Florida, Dr. David Sachs and his team have been testing out the new method.

Sachs told WCTV, "We have to eliminate the existing immune system first in order to train the new immune system."

According to the news station, doctors said the transplanted marrow tricks the immune system into thinking the new kidney is part of the patient’s own body. Thus, Sachs said, immuno-suppressant drugs are not needed to prevent rejection.