QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER SUCCESSFUL PANCREAS-KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Quality of life assessment has emerged as an important approach to eva luate the effect of pancreas transplantation in diabetic patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD). The aim of this stuty was to evaluate the impact of the ESRD treatment modality on the quality of life in p atients with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Thirty-two patients of similar age, sex and diabetes duration, treated for more t han 1 year with simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (Grou p 1, n = 12), or kidney transplantation (Group 2, n = 10), or hemodial ysis (Group 3, n = 10) were studied. Quality of life was assessed usin g a questionnaire (34 questions with 103 possible answers) including s ocial (sickness pension, working capacity) and subjective (general hea lth perception), index of Spizer and index of reintegration to normal life of Wood Dauphine) quality of life indicators, working capacity, a s well as physical ability (Karnofsky index), sports training and sexu al activity. Patients in Group 1 showed highest scores on general heal th perception (p = 0.012), Karnofsky index (p = 0.076) and sexual acti vity (p = 0.026). There were no significant differences between groups on social index, as well as index of Spizer, index of reintegration t o normal life and sport activity. Patients on hemodialysis treatment p resented the lowest scores in all the items evaluated. In conclusion, in our experience simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation is the treatment modality that offers better quality of life to diabetic patients with ESRD; however, this does not translate into a higher soc io-labor yield.