Pancreas transplantation before and nowadays

Overview

The first pancreas transplantation in the world took place in December 1966 in Minneapolis, USA. Since the first transplantion in the IKEM, and thus the first transplantion in Eastern Europe, passed the 26th June this year for 26 years. During that time many things have changed. From uncertain beginnings, when even the future of this method of treatment and were skeptical of the techniques of pancreas transplantation evolved and today the combined transplantion is seen as a final attempt to reverse the otherwise totally adverse prognosis of patients with diabetic nephropathy in the terminal stage. Contributed to both improved surgical techniques and new, more effective and less toxic immunosuppressive drugs.

Currently remains in the IkEM after combined pancreas and kidney transplantation without the need for insulin after 1 year and 85 % after 5 years 70 % of diabetics. Several beneficiaries take full function of the transplanted pancreas more than 20 years. These results are comparable with leading transplant centers dealing with problems of diabetes

Key words:
pancreas transplantation, indications, Langerhans’ cells.