Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in the United States: An Analysis of the UNOS Registry.

Waki K, Sugawara Y, Tamura S, Yamashiki N, Fujita H, Kadowaki T, Kokudo N.

Clinical Transplants 2010, Chapter 3

Abstract

The rate of chronic pancreas graft loss in simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation has remained almost unchanged despite induction therapy. Since 1987, seven major immunosuppressive induction agents-basiliximab, daclizumab, ALG, eATG, OKT 3, alembuzumab, rATG-have been used as immunosuppressive induction agents. Those agents improved short-term survival by preventing acute rejection, but improvement of short-term survival has not translated into improved long-term graft survival. As with most solid organ transplants, there is a need for means to control chronic rejection to improve long-term graft survival.