title: Technical and immunosuppressive advances in transplantation for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Pancreas transplantation has emerged as the single most effective way to achieve normal glucose homeostasis inpatients with type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Optimal immunosuppressive strategies for pancreas transplantation continue to evolve with the use of newer, more potent immunosuppressive agents,particularly tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and rapamycin. These agents have contributed to substantially lower rates of allograft rejection and improved graft survival. Regimens designed to avoid nephrotoxicity or spare corticosteroid therapy are emerging as the variety of drug options grows. Also contributing to progressively better results for solitary pancreas transplants are reductions in early graft loss rates and the development of safe, effective biopsy techniques, permitting accurate diagnosis of rejection. Collectively,these factors have allowed solitary pancreas allograft recipients, a group of patients with historically poor long-term graft survival, to enjoy successes nearly equivalent to those of combined kidney-pancreas transplants. Consequently, the American Diabetes Association strongly endorses pancreas transplantation in diabetic patients who have received prior kidney transplants and who have life-threatening metabolic lability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, H4/756 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison,Wisconsin 53792, USA. jon@tx.surgery.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Odorico
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Sollinger
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement