Diabetic microangiopathy in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients after successful pancreatic and kidney or solitary kidney transplantation.

To evaluate the beneficial effect of pancreatic grafting on peripheral microcirculation and long-term clinical outcome, we compared data of 28 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients either given a pancreatic and kidney graft simultaneously or given a solitary kidney graft (n = 17). Peripheral microcirculation was estimated by transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement (including reoxygenation potential after blood flow occlusion) and erythrocyte flow/velocity by a non-contact laser speckle method. All the measured parameters showed significant differences between diabetic and control subjects in the mean follow-up time of 49 (simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation) and 43 (solitary kidney transplantation) months. The data from patients after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation revealed an improvement of transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement (rise from 46 +/- 2 mm Hg to 63 +/- 3 mmHg), reoxygenation time (fall from 224 +/- 12s to 114 +/- 6s) and laser speckle measurement (rise from 4.2 +/- 1.7 to 5.6 +/- 1.8 relative units). The control group with solitary kidney transplantation did not show a positive evaluation. Data from patients after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation revealed an improvement in transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement, reoxygenation time and laser speckle measurement whereas the control group with solitary kidney transplantation did not show a positive evaluation. Improved microcirculation was more pronounced in patients with better microvascular preconditions. The results confirm that diabetic microangiopathy is positively influenced by pancreatic transplantation.