Pancreatic Transplantation: Beta Cell Replacement.
Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Complications of diabetes including renal failure, retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease limit both survival and quality of life. Pancreatic transplantation can restore euglycemia thereby stabilizing or even reversing secondary complications of diabetes as well as improving quality of life particularly in patients with labile diabetes. Recent evidence also shows an improved survival in diabetic patients that undergo pancreatic transplantation when combined with a kidney transplant. Pancreatic transplantation should more properly be referred to as beta cell replacement as the field today encompasses both whole organ and islet cell transplantation. We have outlined herein the indications and contraindications to islet or whole organ pancreas transplantation and we have described periprocedure care and short- and long-term prognosis.
Bigam
David L.
DL
University of Alberta Hospital, 8440-112 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada.
Shapiro
AM James
AJ