[Acute pancreatitis after kidney transplantation]

Pancreatitis following kidney transplantation was first described by Starzl in 1964 [19]. The incidence rate of the disease involving severe complications ranges from 1.2 to 6.8%. The number of risk factors, besides those of the normal population, is increased by a number of other factors, i.e. uremia, disorder of lipid metabolism, polycystic kidney, immunosuppressive drugs, cytomegalovirus infection, etc. The mortality of acute pancreatitis in a kidney transplant patient is, in spite of treatment with the most up-to-date methods, is much higher (53-60%) than that for a non-transplant patient. In the period between 27 June 1991 and 31 December 2000 the number of cadaver kidney transplants performed in the Transplantation Division of the 1st Department of Surgery of the Medical and Health-Science Centre of the University of Debrecen was 349. During this period 9 incidences of acute pancreatitis were found in 8 patients. The frequency of incidence was 2.56%. In the present communication we analyse the prognosis of 9 kidney transplant patients, with special respect to immunosuppression.

One patient was administered Cyclosporin alone, four were given Cyclosporin and Steroids, a further one Cyclosporin, Steroids and Azathioprine, the remaining three were treated with Cyclosporin, steroids and Mycophenolate Mophetil. In six cases out of nine multiorgan insufficiency (kidney, lung, liver) was encountered on presentation, three cases were accompanied by peritonitis. In spite of early jejunal nutrition, intensive therapy, antibiotic treatment, CT monitoring, if needed, necrectomy and oncotomy, three of our patients died from multiorgan insufficiency induced by septico-toxic state (mortality 33.3%). Other six patients recovered.

The mortality rate of acute pancreatitis is much higher in immunosuppressed patients. The role of the etiological factors is not unequivocal in the development of pancreatitis. Nevertheless, all possible risk factors have to be taken into consideration when starting the immunosuppressive treatment of transplant patients and during their follow-up. By optimally adjusting the immunosuppressants we can decrease the risk of pancreatitis, however, the prognosis of the diseases, in agreement with the data in the literature, cannot be considerably improved even with the most up-to-date methods.