EXPERIENCE WITH 500 SIMULTANEOUS PANCREAS-KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

Methods From December 1985 to October 1997, 500 simultaneous pancreas- kidney transplants (SPKs) were performed at the University of Wisconsi n. Bladder drainage (BD) was used in 388 and enteric drainage (ED) in 112. All pancreas transplants were presented in UW solution. Results P atient survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 96.4%, 88.6%, and 76.3%. kid ney function, 88.6%, 80.3%, and 66.6%; and pancreas function, 87.5%, 7 8.1 %, and 67.2%. Thrombosis of the pancreas occurred in three to four (0.6% to 0.8%) and primary nonfunction in one (0.2%). There was a 4.2 % acute tubular necrosis rate for the kidney. Conversion from ED to ED was required in 24% of cases. Primary indications for enteric convers ion (EC) were leak (14%), urethritis and extravasation (7%), and chron ic hematuria (3%), No graft was lost as a resuit of EC. There was no d ifference in 1-year graft survival between ED and ED. Leading causes o f pancreas loss were rejection in 45 patients and death with a functio ning graft in 27 patients. Since June 1995. mycophenolate mofetil was used for immunosuppression (n = 109), One-year survival rates with myc ophenolate mofetil are patient, 98.1%; kidney, 94.2%; and pancreas, 93 .1%. Steroid-resistant rejections de creased from 48% to 15%. Conclusi ons This series represents the world's largest experience with SPK, in cluding the longest follow-up for ED pancreatic transplants. Ten-year graft survival rates exceed those of all other transplants, with the e xception of HLA-identical living-related grafts. This series confirms that SPK is a highly successful procedure for selected diabetic patien ts with renal failure.