How Do I Qualify for One?

Listed below are the criteria a potential patient must meet in order to be a candidate for a pancreas transplant.

Combined Kidney/Pancreas (SPK) Transplantation*

Indications:

• Chronic renal failure and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Contra Indications:

• Uncorrectable coronary artery disease

• Advanced peripheral vascular disease

• Age greater than 60 years

Pancreas After Kidney (PAK) Transplantation*

Indications:

• Previous kidney transplant from either living related donor or deceased donor to treat chronic renal failure

• Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Contra Indications

• Uncorrectable coronary artery disease

• Advanced peripheral vascular disease

• Age greater than 60 years

Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA) Transplantation*

Indications:

• Labile insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus

• Low quality of life from diabetes per se and problems with diabetes more seriuos than potential side effects of chronic immunosuppression

• Hypoglycemic unawareness

Contra Indications

• Uncorrectable coronary artery disease

• Advanced peripheral vascular disease

• Age greater than 60 years

• Diabetes adequately controlled by insulin shots or insulin pump

*Recipient criteria are independent of donor source (living or deceased).  Living donor segmental pancreas transplants can be performed in any category, but are primarily performed in SPK category to avoid long waiting times and reduce the need for segmental transplants (kidney followed by pancreas).  Depends on having a volunteer with absolutely normal pancreatic endocrine, as well as renal function.

Application and Evaluation

If you would like to find out more information about pancreas transplantation and how you can get one, please contact The Transplant Center at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview (formerly called Fairview-University Medical Center) at 1-800-328-5465.