Impact of immunosuppression on improvement of results in clinical pancreas transplantation.

Since November 1975, 103 pancreas transplantations have been performed in 97 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Pancreas and kidney were grafted simultaneously in 84 patients (plus 1 double retransplantation). Eighty-nine pancreas grafts were prepared by duct obstruction with neoprene, and 14 were pancreaticoduodenal grafts with enteric diversion in a Roux-en-Y loop. Five immunosuppressive protocols were subsequently used. With the latest protocols, patient and pancreas survival improved to 93 and 72% at 1 yr, respectively. The improvement in graft survival appeared to be particularly related to the reduction of the number of pancreas grafts lost in rejection. The patients treated with the last protocols, including cyclosporin A (CsA) and only low doses of steroids, showed a better glucose tolerance after provocative tests. Pancreas-graft function did not appear to be influenced by CsA treatment.