Pancreas allograft biopsies in the management of pancreas transplant recipients: histopathologic review and clinical correlations

Abstract

Context: Pancreas transplantation has become a therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who are in end-stage renal failure. It also is indicated for a subset of nonuremic, insulin-dependent diabetics who experience extreme difficulties in maintaining proper glucose homeostasis by insulin therapy that compromises their productivity and safety.

Objective: To provide a review of the literature and expert experiences for understanding the histologic findings in pancreas transplantation.

Data sources: The published literature between 1990 and 2005 was reviewed for this report. Additionally, personal files of the author were used, along with biopsy slides that were used for figures.

Conclusions: Pancreas transplantation reestablishes the physiologic state of insulin secretion, and pancreas transplant recipients are able to maintain a state of long-term euglycemia and are less likely to be exposed to hyperglycemia and its systemic complications. Key to the success of transplantation is the scrupulous management and close monitoring of the pancreas transplant recipients. To that end, histologic evaluation of pancreas allografts assumed a pivotal role in management of pancreas allograft dysfunction episodes, and in some centers surveillance biopsies are used to monitor immunologically high-risk situations.