Pancreas transplantation

Pancreas transplantation: indications and consequences

Pancreas transplantation continues to evolve as a strategy in the management of diabetes mellitus. The first combined pancreas-kidney transplant was reported in 1967, but pancreas transplant now represents a number of procedures, each with different indications, risks, benefits, and outcomes. This review will summarize these procedures, including their risks and outcomes in comparison to kidney transplantation alone, and how or if they affect the consequences of diabetes: hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and microvascular and macrovascular complications. In addition, the new risks introduced by immunosuppression will be reviewed, including infections, cancer, osteoporosis, reproductive function, and the impact of immunosuppression medications on blood pressure, lipids, and glucose tolerance. It is imperative that an endocrinologist remain involved in the care of the pancreas transplant recipient, even when glucose is normal, because of the myriad of issues encountered post transplant, including ongoing management of diabetic complications, prevention of bone loss, and screening for failure of the pancreas graft with reinstitution of treatment when indicated. Although long-term patient and graft survival have improved greatly after pancreas transplant, a multidisciplinary team is needed to maximize long-term quality, as well as quantity, of life for the pancreas transplant recipient.

Pancreas and kidney transplantation

Kidney transplantation is preferred over dialysis for management of end-stage renal disease complicating type I or type 2 diabetes, for those who are eligible. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) or pancreas after kidney transplantation (PAK) is an important alternative to kidney transplantation alone for type I diabetes patients if the patient is able to withstand the additional risks of these procedures, because of the benefits of glucose control on other diabetic complications. Pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) is most useful for the treatment of debilitating, frequent hypoglycemia complicating type I diabetes, if renal function is adequate. One-year pancreas graft survival is best after SPK (82%) but has significantly improved after both PAK (74%) and PTA (76%). The I-year kidney graft and patient survival rates after SPK are similar to kidney transplantation alone. Pancreas transplantation normalizes glucose beyond what can be achieved with insulin therapy and has been shown to decrease progression of or improve most, if not all, diabetic end-organ complications using current immunosuppression regimens. However, the diabetologist and endocrinologist should remain involved in the care of the pancreas or kidney transplant recipient for treatment of vascular disease risk factors such as dyslipidemia, surveillance of other diabetic complications including foot ulcers, surveillance and treatment of bone loss, and management of hyperglycemia if it recurs.