Abstract
Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) is used to treat those with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal failure in Japan, mediating diabetic complications and quality of life (QOL). The serious shortage of brain-death donors in Japan has, however, prevented SPK benefits from being verified. We studied SPK effects on diabetic neuropathy, macroangiopathy, and QOL in 13 SPK recipients with a mean age of 40 years, mean diabetes duration of 23 years, and mean hemodialysis of 6 years at mean 2.6 years after transplantation. Posttransplantation motor nerve conduction velocity, heart rate variability, and gastric emptying improved significantly and were significantly better than those in those waiting for treatment. Left ventricular hypertrophy and pulse wave velocity improved after transplantation. QOL evaluated by Short-Form 36 was better physically and mentally than that in those waiting and further improved 2 years later, while QOL in those waiting patients remained severely impaired. We found that SPK improved diabetic neuropathy, macroangiopathy, and QOL in those with type 1 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal failure in Japan.
