Evidence Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Transplant. Sep 18, 2023; 13(5): 208-220
Published online Sep 18, 2023. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v13.i5.208
Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation for end-stage renal failure in type 1 diabetes mellitus: Current perspectives
Lakshmi Nagendra, Cornelius James Fernandez, Joseph M Pappachan
Lakshmi Nagendra, Department of Endocrinology, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysore 570015, India
Cornelius James Fernandez, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Pilgrim Hospital, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Boston PE21 9QS, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Preston PR2 9HT, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Faculty of Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, United Kingdom
Joseph M Pappachan, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Nagendra L performed the literature search, interpreted the relevant literature, and drafted the initial manuscript; Pappachan JM and Fernandez CJ conceived the idea and provided additional input to design the paper; Fernandez CJ prepared the figures and with additional input from Pappachan JM, revised the article critically for important intellectual content after peer reviews; All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Joseph M Pappachan, MD, FRCP, Academic Editor, Professor, Senior Researcher, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sharoe Green Lane, Preston PR2 9HT, United Kingdom. drpappachan@yahoo.co.in
Received: June 30, 2023
Peer-review started: June 30, 2023
First decision: July 28, 2023
Revised: August 1, 2023
Accepted: August 18, 2023
Article in press: August 18, 2023
Published online: September 18, 2023
Processing time: 76 Days and 10.7 Hours
Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the important causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Even with the best available treatment options, management of T1DM poses significant challenges for clinicians across the world, especially when associated with CKD and ESRF. Substantial increases in morbidity and mortality along with marked rise in treatment costs and marked reduction of quality of life are the usual consequences of onset of CKD and progression to ESRF in patients with T1DM. Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPK) is an attractive and promising treatment option for patients with advanced CKD/ESRF and T1DM for potential cure of these diseases and possibly several complications. However, limited availability of the organs for transplantation, the need for long-term immunosuppression to prevent rejection, peri- and post-operative complications of SPK, lack of resources and the expertise for the procedure in many centers, and the cost implications related to the surgery and postoperative care of these patients are major issues faced by clinicians across the globe. This clinical update review compiles the latest evidence and current recommendations of SPK for patients with T1DM and advanced CKD/ESRF to enable clinicians to care for these diseases.

Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Chronic kidney disease; End-stage renal failure; Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation; Perioperative complications; Immunosuppression

Core Tip: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPKT) is a promising management option for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal failure (CKD/ESRF) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) for probable cure of these diseases and possibly some of their complications. However, limited availability of these organs, need for long-term immunosuppression, the surgical complications, lack of availability of this procedure in most centers, and the cost implications related to SPKT are major challenges across the world. This clinical update review is to enable clinicians with the best evidence and current recommendations of SPKT for managing their patients with T1DM and advanced CKD/ESRF.