Survival After Pancreas Transplantation in Patients With Diabetes and Preserved Kidney Function

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Abstract
Pancreatic transplantation is a therapeutic option for patients with complicated diabetes mellitus. The American Diabetes Association supports the procedure for patients with diabetes who have had, or need, a kidney transplant. In the absence of kidney failure, pancreas transplantation may be considered for patients with diabetes and severe and frequent metabolic instability (ie, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis).1 Despite current controversy, and while the annual number of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants remained stable from 1995 to 2002, over that same interval the annual number of solitary pancreas transplants (ie, pancreas transplant alone or pancreas-after-kidney transplant) increased 5-fold (United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network [UNOS/OPTN] data as of May 2, 2003).