Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center
Experience and Prospective Analysis
M. Rossi, Q. Lai, G. Spoletini, L. Poli, F. Nudo, S. Ferretti, F. Della Pietra, F. Pugliese, G. Ferretti,
G. Novelli, R. Pretagostini, and P.B. Berloco
ABSTRACT
In patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM 1),
simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation is currently considered the gold stan-
dard therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze and report the long-term clinical
outcomes of the 23 SPK transplantations performed at our institution over an 84-month
period (January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006). A prospective analysis of these patients
included donor, recipient, and transplantation characteristics. The only requirements for
transplantation were blood group compatibility and a negative cross-match. Bladder
drainage via pancreaticoduodenocystostomy was performed in all of the patients. Due to
a pulmonary embolus 1 patient (4.3%) died at 2 months. The actuarial patient survival
rates at 3 months and 1, 3, and 5 years were 95.6%. Causes for the renal graft loss were
chronic allograft nephropathy in 3 cases (13%) and death of the patient in 1 case (4.3%).
The actuarial censored renal allograft survival rates at 3 months and at 1 year were 100%,
and at 3 and 5 years were 91.3%. Causes for the renal graft loss were chronic rejection in
1 case (4.3%) and patient death in 1 case (4.3%). The actuarial censored pancreatic
allograft survival rates at 3 months and at 1 and 3 years were 100%, and at 5 years was
95.6%. The results of this work add further evidence that SPK is the gold standard therapy
for selected patients with end-stage CKD due to DM 1.
T
YPE 1 diabetes mellitus (DM 1) caused by the loss of
pancreatic beta cell function produces insulin defi-
ciency. This pathology is associated with an increased risk of
morbidity and mortality due to long-term macrovascular
and microvascular pathological conditions,
1
like chronic
kidney disease (CKD).
2
Clinical studies have demonstrated
that simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation
for patients with end-stage CKD and DM 1 is associated
with increased survival when compared with solitary de-
ceased donor kidney transplantation or dialysis therapy.
3,4
SPK is currently the gold standard for these patients.
5
The
aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of
SPK transplantations at our institution.
METHODS
From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006, 23 SPK transplanta-
tions were performed with all patients having a 1-year follow-up.
No patient was excluded from the study. We performed a prospec-
tive analysis of these patients.
We analyzed donor age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood
group, natremia, glycemia, serum creatinine value, estimated cre-
atinine clearance (CrCl; calculated with Cockcroft-Gault formula),
intensive care unit (ICU) stay, episodes of hypotension, cardiac
arrest, use of vasoactive drugs, and causes of death. Recipient age,
gender, and BMI were analyzed. Cold ischemia time for the
pancreatic and for the renal allograft were already analyzed.
At the time of transplantation, blood group compatibility and
negative cross-match were the only requirements for transplanta-
tion. The perfusion always used University of Wisconsin (UW)
solution. Regarding the surgical technique, a whole-pancreas tech-
nique with bladder drainage via pancreaticoduodenocystostomy
was used in all of the patients; only in 1 case was there a
From the Chirurgia Generale e Trapianti d’Organo (M.R., Q.L.,
G.S., L.P., F.N., S.F., G.N., R.P., P.B.B.); Dipartimento di Scienze
Anestesiologiche (F.D.P.), Medicina Critica e Terapia del Dolore
(F.P.); and Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali (G.F.), La
Sapienza Università di Roma, Umberto I Policlinico di Roma,
Rome, Italy.
The present study was supported by “Consorzio Inter-
Universitario Per i Trapianti,” Director Prof. R. Cortesini.
Address reprint requests to M. Rossi, Transplant Department,
II Clinica Chirurgica, Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico
155, Rome 00161, Italy. E-mail: m.rossi@uniroma1.it
0041-1345/08/$–see front matter © 2008 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.05.059 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710
2024 Transplantation Proceedings, 40, 2024 –2026 (2008)