[Status of clinical pancreas transplantation]

Since 1977 and especially within the latest 5 years there was a volatile development in the pancreas transplantation. If we had only 60 transplants between 1966-1977, prevalent duodeno-pancreas-transplants, the cases rose to 215 up to 1982 and to 447 transplantations between 1983 to 1985. Altogether there were 722 pancreas transplants, up to November, 15, 1985 registered. Before 1977 only 2 patients had a 1 year function rate of the transplant and of the 447 transplantations within the latest 3 years 201 transplants functioned more than 12 months. That was a 1-year function rate of 45% in contrast to 3% before 1977. The clear improvement of the results in pancreas transplantation can be attributed to operative aspects and to the employment of Cyclosporine A. The segmental pancreas transplantation with duct occlusion and intestinal or external drainage of the duct system were the most sure operative procedures. The combination of Azathioprine and Cyclosporin A brought with a 1-year function rate of 54% better results in comparison to the singular application of Azathioprine (22%) and Cyclosporin A (41%). The simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation had a 1-year function rate of 39%, the pancreas transplantation after kidney of 31% and the pancreas transplantation alone of 20%.