HIGH-INCIDENCE OF CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS AFTER COMBINED PANCREAS AND KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTATION

Fifty-eight patients with long-standing type 1 (insulin-dependent) dia betes were studied prospectively after combined pancreas and kidney tr ansplantation for a mean observation period of 47.9 months (range 17-1 16 months). Thirty-three per cent of these patients (19/58) developed carpal tunnel syndrome after a mean interval of 1.7 years (range 3 mon ths -5 years). This rate is about twice that in type 1 diabetic patien ts. The manifestation of carpal tunnel syndrome was not significantly associated with worsening of diabetic polyneuropathy or with deteriora tion of kidney or pancreas function. In all but one patient symptoms i mproved without surgical intervention. This study suggests that patien ts after combined pancreas and kidney transplantation have an increase d risk of carpal tunnel syndrome for which the etiology and pathophysi ology are unknown. In most patients no surgical intervention is necess ary.