More details and insight into PDP presidential flagbearer and Katsina Sate Governor's health problems emerge as he left the German hospital Saturday afternoon as sources close to him and medical experts explain that Governor Umaru Yaradua may not need a transplant for his kidney problems.

Medical sources who spoke to The Guardian on Sunday on condition of anonymity said the PDP candidate may have suffered acute kidney problems in 2000 when he was flown out of Nigeria to Germany. The distinction between acute and chronic kidney diseases was made with the explanation that acute kidney disease can be reversed if the underlining cause itself is corrected. There could also be a case of 'acute on the chronic' kidney disease.

But if the presidential candidate had an acute kidney disease, doctors said the kidney can recover by itself if the treatment was made early enough.  

Sources close to the Governor disclose that he had dialysis in Nigeria before he was flown to Germany in 2000, but has not been undergoing any dialysis treatment since then. Besides it was also disclosed that the Katsina State Governor has not heard any transplant and may not have need of a transplant.

Besides, it was said that his recent medical visit to Germany was not related to any kidney problems, but medical experts say dehydration can lead to a flaring up of a kidney and this is instructive because Yaradua had been on the campaign trail recently.

Yaradua, according to sources had complained of breathing problems and palpitation due to exhaustion. Doctors in his Germany clinic were believed to have concluded after blood tests that he had no problem with his kidney at this time after carrying out blood tests including what is called a Blood Urea and Nitrogen, BUN test and Creatinine tests which both measure the effectiveness of the kidney. Experts said those test investigate the levels of urea and potassium in the blood, two agents whose high levels can prove very fatal inside the body.

A medical expert said an acute rhenal failure, ie kidney problem terminates kidney effectiveness immediately and can be caused by accident situations. Infection of the kidney from bacteria can also cause acute kidney disease. But acute problem can easily be dealt with and completely reversed.

On the other hand, the Chronic Kidney Disease, which is a progressive determination of kidney function over time that can't be reversed, but can only be slowed.

Furthermore medical experts explained that a chronic version of the disease can also progress slowly in which case the need for dialysis may not surface early and the patient may remain very well for a long time. However other health conditions of the patients can always cause aggravation that can bring the disease to become an end-stage chronic disease. 

It was learnt that the original cause of Yaradua's kidney problem was skin problem developed from the use of medication for a skin problem that he had previously.

A Nigerian doctor based in the US said if Yaradua had acute kidney disease it could have been reversed and the Governor can remain fine. However if he has Chronic Kidney Disease then he will definitely develop to a stage that he would need dialysis and a transplant to remain alive.

The doctor said an average Nigerian kidney patient survives for two years by which time they become drain of funds to continue with dialysis.