Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation for end-stage renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy : principles and practice.

ABSTRACT

Diabetic nephropathy is the second most common cause of renal failure in the United Kingdom where majority of the patients were managed by renal transplantation and insulin therapy in the past. Over the last three decades, increasing number of patients are undergoing simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPKT) because of its advantages, which renders the patient both dialysis and insulin-independent, halts the progression of complications of diabetes, thereby improves the quality of life, survival and has proven to be cost-effective. This article presents a review on the principles and contemporary practice of SPKT worldwide and highlights the future directions.