How Should Pancreas Transplant Rejection Be Treated?

Limited published data exist to guide the treatment of pancreas transplant rejection.

We reviewed the treatment and outcomes of 158 first episodes of biopsy-proven pancreas rejection between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2016. Within each Banff grade of rejection, we compared response rates and long-term outcomes with steroids alone versus steroids plus antithymocyte globulin (ATG).

Of 158 pancreas recipients with rejection, 65 were treated with steroids alone. Eighty-three percent of patients with grade I, 60% with grade II, and 33.33% with grade III rejection responded to treatment with steroids alone. Ninety-three patients were treated with steroids plus ATG. The response rates were 69% in grade I, 76% in grade II, and 73% in grade III. Response rates and graft survival were not different with grade I rejection treated with steroids alone versus steroids plus ATG. However, response rates and graft survival were significantly better with grade III rejection treated with the addition of ATG, and graft survival rates were significantly better with grade II rejection treated with the addition of ATG.

Grade I pancreas rejection can usually be successfully treated with steroids alone, whereas grade II and III rejection should usually be treated with steroids plus ATG, as the addition of ATG improves both response rates and graft survival.