Simultaneous pancreas kidney transplants in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease: the 20-yr experience.

INTRODUCTION: We are reporting the results over a 20 yr period of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants in patients with end-stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus. The outcomes of the transplants, performed between 1989 and 2008, are stratified by pretransplant c-peptide value.
METHODS: One hundred and seventy-three patients with end-stage renal disease due to diabetes, and were stratified according to undetectable c-peptide (x < 0.8 ng/mL) and detectable c-peptide (x > 0.8 ng/mL) levels.
RESULTS: Patients with detectable c-peptide (x > 0.8 ng/mL) were the oldest at diabetes diagnosis (24.2 vs. 15.4 yr, p < 0.0001), and oldest at transplant (42.8 vs. 38.5, p < 0.0001) had fewer years of insulin use (19.19 vs. 22.57 yr, p = 0.012), and were heavier pre transplant (BMI: 26.09 vs. 23.1, p < 0.0001), and heavier post transplant (29.8 vs. 24.7, p < 0.0001). Those with detectable c-peptide levels (x > 0.8 ng/mL) had better graft survival than those with an undetectable c-peptide level (x < 0.8 ng/mL), p = 0.064; while those with undetectable levels, had better patient survival than those with detectable c-peptide levels (p = 0.019).
CONCLUSION: Despite the differences between groups by BMI, age of onset of insulin use, and age at transplant, there was a difference in patient but not graft survival within the 20 yr follow-up period.