The current challenges for pancreas transplantation for diabetes mellitus

Pancreas transplantation is an accepted treatment for a subset of patients with diabetes mellitus, in particular those with renal failure who also require a kidney transplant and those with life-threatening hypoglycaemic unawareness. As results have improved and demand has risen, attention has focused on increasing the availability of pancreas transplantation by utilising pancreases from less than ideal donors, as well as addressing factors that limit the longevity of graft survival. The development of islet transplantation has posed additional demands on donor pancreas availability, as well as posing new challenges for donor organ allocation. This review focuses upon some of the current areas of interest in pancreatic transplantation.