Pancreas Transplantation at the University of Louvain : Results of 2 successive techniques

Today, combined kidney and pancreas transplantation is the best treatment for patients with type I diabetes and pre-end or end-stage renal disease due to the diabetic nephropathy. Thirty three patients (35 pancreases, 33 kidneys and 1/iver) underwent thatprocedure at our Institution (2 patients received 2 pancreases). Recent technical modifications - with the use of a whole pancreas graft with urinary drainage of the exocrine secretion in the recipient by peJforming a pancreaticoduodenocystostomy - allow the monitoring of the exocrine secretion which is a pertinent immunological marker for pancreas rejection. Current actuarial survival rates for patients, kidneys and pancreases are respective/y 87%, 81% and 77% at one year. In the next future, pancreas a/one should be consideree! safely using the same procedure, in non uremie diabetic recipients in whom extra-renal secondary complications are more serious than the potential side effects of chronic immunosuppression. That type of pancreas transplantation should benefit of the forthcoming immunosuppressive drugs.