Transplantation of the pancreas

A procedure was developed in the laboratory for pancreatic allotransplantation in pancreatectomized dogs. Dogs with such grafts have survived for many months when treated with azathioprene and prednisone to prevent rejection. Contrary to usual beliefs, the pancreas is not unduly sensitive to total ischemia since it has been possible to successfully preserve a canine pancreas in vitro with hypothermia for periods up to 24 hours. Such preserved pancreas' have then been allotransplanted into pancreatectomized dogs with survival of the dogs for long periods. We have now done pancreaticoduodenal allotransplantation in 13 patients with juvenile onset diabetes mellitus. Nine of these patients also had renal failure and received simultaneously a renal allograft taken from the same cadaver. In all but one of these patients the pancreas functioned immediately. Two patients with juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and severe retinopathy but without terminal renal failure have received pancreaticoduodenal allografts alone. In both of these patients the pancreas functioned immediately but problems with the duodenum necessitated the removal of the pancreaticoduodenal allograft which did not show signs of rejection. As a result of the findings of increased sensitivity of the kidney and duodenum to rejection we have now modified our technique to transplant the pancreas alone. This technique was used in one patient with juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and severe retinopathy. Her renal function was only moderately reduced. The pancreatic allograft initially functioned normally but then was removed at 28 days because of clinical signs of rejection of the pancreas which were confirmed by the microscopic findings. Despite the promise of islet-cell transplantation, no long term functioning allografts have resulted in animals or man. Thus we need to continue with whole organ pancreatic allografts by various techniques if diabetes mellitus is to be controlled.