Severance Hospital in Seoul performs ABO-incompatible living-donor kidney transplant from father to daughter
A prominent transplant surgeon at Severance Hospital in Seoul led a complex kidney transplant for a Korean patient whose chronic kidney failure began with an apparently minor condition. Im Da-som, now in her 30s, received her father’s kidney in February 2025 after 18 months of preparation and a rare medical setback that temporarily paused the operation.
Doctors diagnosed Im with glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory disease of the kidney’s filtering units, following a routine health check in December 2020. She had no noticeable symptoms at first, a common pattern with chronic kidney disease. Medical experts note that people can lose kidney function without feeling ill, and that glomerulonephritis and related conditions are among the leading causes of chronic kidney failure alongside diabetes and high blood pressure.
Im’s condition gradually worsened despite lifestyle changes and medications. By early 2021, her glomerular filtration rate (a key kidney function measure) stood at 29%. She was treated with steroids initially, then with immunosuppressant therapy to control inflammation. Although her outward symptoms lessened, her kidney function continued to decline, and by August 2023 her filtration rate had fallen to 12%, bringing dialysis and transplant into view.
A transplant from a deceased donor had been planned, but Im’s father volunteered to donate his kidney. The operation would require ABO compatibility, yet his blood type (O) did not match Im’s (A), and doctors warned that anti-O antibodies could make the transplant very difficult. Complicating matters further was a rare blood disorder known as atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which temporarily halted the plan and necessitated a careful, prolonged course of treatment.
After 18 months of addressing these issues, the team postponed no longer. In February 2025, Im received her father’s kidney into the right kidney region. The operation was successful, and within four days her test results had returned to normal levels. She was discharged five days later, but a later check revealed a CMV infection, a known risk after organ transplantation. It was detected early and managed without major complications.
Today Im lives more like a typical adult with a functioning kidney. She no longer endures dialysis and has resumed a more active life, including regular medical follow-ups every two to three months, ongoing immunosuppressant and other medications, and physical activity such as Pilates. Her appetite and energy have improved, and she speaks gratefully about her father’s decision to donate.
Why this matters beyond Korea, including for U.S. readers: the case highlights several broader themes relevant to the United States. First, chronic kidney disease often progresses silently, underscoring the value of routine checkups and early intervention to slow disease progression and expand treatment options. Second, living donor kidney transplantation remains a critical path for patients on the transplant waiting list, including cases that involve ABO incompatibility and complex immune issues that require careful desensitization and planning. The story also illustrates the ongoing risks after transplantation, such as infections like CMV, even when the transplant initially succeeds, reinforcing the need for robust post-operative care and monitoring.
Severance Hospital’s transplant program is among Korea’s leading centers, reflecting the global importance of advanced transplant medicine and multidisciplinary care. For U.S. audiences, the narrative echoes the shared challenges of managing CKD, expanding living donation, and balancing donor availability with medical risk — issues that shape health policy, hospital capacity, and patient outcomes in both countries.