Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) in patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic renal failure: experience in 12 patients in Chile

Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SKPT) is the best alternative for end stage renal disease among patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. To report our experience with SKPT. Retrospective analysis of 12 recipients of SKPT transplanted in one center starting in 1994, with a mean follow-up period of 6.8 years (2-15). Eleven of 12 recipients were in chronic hemodialysis before SKPT. Mean A, B, DR and HLA mismatch was 4.3. Mean preformed anti HLA antibodies was 3.3 %. Mean cold ischemia times for pancreas and kidney were 6 and 10 hours, respectively. In the first eight cases, the pancreas was drained to the bladder, and in the last four, an enteric drainage was performed. Eleven recipients were induced with antibodies, and maintenance immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin or tacrolimus plus an antiproliferative agent. Ten year patient survival was 70%. Pancreas and kidney survival, defined by insulin and dialysis independence, were 72 and 73% respectively. Fifty percent of recipients experienced acute graft rejection (cellular or humoral), with good response to treatment except in one case. This experience shows that SKPT is associated with an excellent patient survival associated to insulin and dialysis independence in 70% of patients at 10 years.