[Pancreas transplantation in Type I diabetic patients]

Abstract

Successful pancreas transplantation can result in the longterm normalization of glucose metabolism. Since most pancreas recipients already have severe diabetic complications, and the observation period after transplantation is rather short, an assessment of the effect of complete glucose normalization on these diabetic changes is problematic. It has, however, been shown that the development of diabetic nephropathy can be prevented, peripheral microcirculation improved, and autonomic and peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy stabilized. These positive effects are, possibly, in part due to the elimination of uremia, since most patients receive both a pancreas and a kidney. The aim must be to perform pancreas transplantation in an early stage of diabetes, even though remarkable improvements have also been reported in terminal stages of the disease, and the quality of life of these patients has been significantly improved.