Long-term survival after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation with primary function of at least one year – a single-center experience

BACKGROUND Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation has been established as the treatment of choice for type 1 diabetes patients with renal dysfunction. Patient 1-year survival better than 95% has been achieved using this kind of transplantation. According to the postoperative complication rate (5% mortality), recipients appear to have a survival benefit not earlier than 2 years after transplantation. This study evaluates the long-term benefit of simultaneous pancreas-kidney recipients with functioning grafts after 1 year. MATERIAL/METHODS A retrospective analysis of 176 patients after first transplantation with functioning grafts 1 year after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation was performed. RESULTS During the follow-up period starting 1 year after successful transplantation, 7 patients died due to various causes, 13 pancreas grafts (7.4%) and 13 kidney transplants (7.4%) lost their function during the 10-year follow-up period. Chronic graft failure was the most common reason for transplant loss. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the excellent long-term prognosis of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation recipients with functioning graft 1 year after transplantation.