Long-term Metabolic Outcomes Post-Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in Recipients With Type 1 Diabetes

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation is an effective treatment option for type 1 diabetes mellitus and concurrent end-stage kidney disease. However, the diabetogenic effects of immunosuppression can counteract the beneficial effects of sustained normoglycemia. Long-term metabolic trends that reflect cardiovascular risk are reported poorly in the literature.

A total of 500 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving SPK transplants at a single center with at least 2-y follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. Metabolic parameters and allograft function were followed longitudinally, including patient and allograft survival, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio up to 10 y posttransplant.

Patient survival at 1, 5, and 10 y was 97%, 92%, and 87%, and overall death-censored graft survival was 87%, 84%, and 80%, respectively. Survival remained unchanged when stratified by BMI. Compared with pretransplant measurements, BMI significantly increased at 1, 3, and 5 y posttransplant. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased at 10 y posttransplant, with significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 5 y posttransplant. Insulin sensitivity improved significantly at 10 y posttransplant but did not normalize. Urinary albumin-creatinine ratio decreased by 3 y posttransplant but increased significantly between 3 and 10 y posttransplant, although the estimated glomerular filtration rate was unchanged during this time.

SPK transplantation is associated with excellent patient and graft survival. Significant long-term weight gain occurs despite improving lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity posttransplant. These data potentially reflect an overall cardiovascular burden that should be addressed in this population.