Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in the United States: an analysis of the UNOS registry

The rate of chronic pancreas graft loss in simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation has remained almost unchanged despite induction therapy. Since 1987, seven major immunosuppressive induction agents-basiliximab, daclizumab, ALG, eATG, OKT 3, alembuzumab, rATG-have been used as immunosuppressive induction agents. Those agents improved short-term survival by preventing acute rejection, but improvement of short-term survival has not translated into improved long-term graft survival. As with most solid organ transplants, there is a need for means to control chronic rejection to improve long-term graft survival.