title: Neurologic complications of pancreas and small bowel transplantation.
abstract: In the past decade, substantial improvements in patient and graft survival for pancreas and small bowel transplants have been achieved. Despite this progress, many patients still develop neurologic complications in the course of their illness. Small bowel transplants produce more neurologic complications because of the complex metabolic environment in which the procedure is performed and because of the intense immune suppression necessitated by the greater immunogenicity of the intestinal mucosa. Pancreas transplants stabilize and/or improve the signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy over time. Because transplantation of the pancreas is often coupled with a kidney transplant and small intestine with liver, neurologic complications in these patients sometimes reflect problems involving the organ partner or both organs. The spectrum of neurologic complications for pancreas and small bowel transplant recipients is similar to other organ transplants but their frequency varies depending on the type of transplant performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. Electronic address: mjacewic@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period
keywords: Small bowel transplantation; immunosuppressive neurotoxicity; intestine transplants; neurologic complications of transplantation; pancreas transplantation