Greater early pancreas graft loss in women compared with men after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Gender differences in graft survival has been reported after some types of organ transplantation, but not after pancreas transplantation. This study compares graft survival between women and men after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK).


METHODS
All first time SPK (n = 163) transplants (109 M/54 F) performed between 1989 and 2000 at University of Nebraska Medical Center, where data was available, were analyzed for overall graft and patient survival. Graft failure was then subdivided into early (<6 months), and late (>6 months), and compared between women and men.


RESULTS
The 5-yr pancreas and kidney graft survival rates for all SPK recipients was 86% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 81-92%] and 87% (95% CI = 82-93%), respectively. While overall pancreas graft survival in women was similar to men (p = 0.16), early pancreas graft failure was greater in women than men (p = 0.010) with no one cause for failure predominant. There was no gender difference in late pancreas graft failure or in early, or late kidney graft failure in the same recipients. The gender difference was unexplained by differences in age, immunosuppression, body mass index (BMI), or diabetes duration between women and men.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of a gender difference in pancreas graft survival after SPK with greater early (<6 months) pancreas graft failure in women than men. With no gender difference in kidney graft failure in the same individuals, gender differences in immune responses are unlikely to be the cause. Multiple variables likely contribute.
Colling
Christopher
C
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Health System, Omaha, NE, USA.
Stevens
R Brian
RB
Lyden
Elizabeth
E
Lane
James
J
Mack-Shipman
Lynn
L
Wrenshall
Lucile
L
Larsen
Jennifer
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome