Quality of Life After Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplantation

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2005-10, Vol.37 (8), p.3558-3559
• Main Authors: Kwiatkowski, A., Michalak, G., Czerwinski, J., Wszola, M., Nosek, R., Ostrowski, K., Chmura, A., Danielewicz, R., Lisik, W., Adadynski, L., Malkowski, P., Fesolowicz, S., Bieniasz, M., Kasprzyk, T., Bernas, M., Szczeklik-Kumala, K., Glowania, A., Durlik, M., Walaszewski, J., Tatoń, J., Rowinski, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blindness; Blood Glucose - metabolism; C-Peptide - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - surgery; Diabetic Nephropathies - surgery; Diabetic Retinopathy; Employment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin Secretion; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Transplantation - physiology; Kidney Transplantation - psychology; Medical sciences; Pancreas Transplantation - physiology; Pancreas Transplantation - psychology; Postoperative Complications - classification; Quality of Life; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tissue, organ and graft immunology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.09.083

Even recipients with satisfactory function of transplanted pancreas and kidney may show physical and/or social disability due to diabetic complications. Our aims were to evaluate diabetic complications influencing recipient quality of life and to assess patients’ psychosociological status. Nineteen patients with functioning grafts who consented to take part in the study, underwent clinical evaluation and answered questions regarding their quality of life. Results showed excellent endocrine pancreatic function in 17 patients. In most recipients, insulin activity and C-peptide levels were elevated owing to systemic venous drainage. Opthalmological examination revealed blindness in 7 patients (in 4 cases with onset following SPKTx) and retinopathy in 13 patients (in 5 cases it appeared after SPKTx). Assessment of the cardiovascular system revealed satisfactory cardiac function in 16 of 19 patients; 4 patients underwent amputation of a lower limb following SPKTx. All 19 recipients admitted to a great benefit of transplantation; most patients declared ability to organize their life activity and social functions and 4 had regular employment. Conversely, most patients were afraid of graft loss, and half were often sad and even depressed.