Deterioration in glucose metabolism in pancreatic transplant recipients after conversion from azathioprine to cyclosporine.

Six recipients of combined pancreas and kidney transplants displayed a deterioration in glucose tolerance when the immunosuppressive therapy was changed from azathioprine-prednisolone to cyclosporine-prednisolone. Because at the same time the plasma C-peptide level increased it seems that insulin resistance, rather than reduced insulin secretion, caused the impairment in glucose tolerance. The condition was found to be reversible.