Pancreatic islet transplantation in a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant recipient — a case report

Beta cell replacement allows for adequate blood glucose control, reduced progression or even reversal of microvascular complications, and improves the quality of life. Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation is the best therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease resulting from diabetic nephropathy. However, when pancreas transplantation is contraindicated or unavailable, pancreatic islet transplantation is an alternative minimally invasive procedure. We report a patient after earlier simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation with a failed pancreas graft, and no option for pancreas retransplantation. In this patient pancreatic islet transplantation was performed. The latter resulted in an improved blood glucose control, restoration of hypoglycaemia awareness, and improved quality of life with stable good function of the kidney allograft.Beta cell replacement allows for adequate blood glucosecontrol, reduced progression or even reversal ofmicrovascular complications, and improves the qualityof life. Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantationis the best therapeutic option for patients withtype 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease resultingfrom diabetic nephropathy. However, when pancreastransplantation is contraindicated or unavailable, pancreaticislet transplantation is an alternative minimallyinvasive procedure. We report a patient after earliersimultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantationwith a failed pancreas graft, and no option for pancreasretransplantation. In this patient pancreatic islettransplantation was performed. The latter resultedin an improved blood glucose control, restoration ofhypoglycaemia awareness, and improved quality oflife with stable good function of the kidney allograft