The majority of patients that receive pancreas transplants have advanced kidney failure as a result of diabetic nephropathy (diabetes-caused kidney damaged), and receive combined kidney/pancreas transplants or pancreas after kidney transplants. Pancreas transplantation is not offered to all diabetic patients because of the risk of side effects associated with life-long use of immunosuppressive medication. Insulin dependent diabetic patients with normal kidney function are considered for pancreatic transplantation alone only if they have life-threatening hypoglycemic unawareness or severe neuropathy.
The goal for pancreas transplantation is to achieve freedom from the use of insulin, to improve the quality of life, and to prevent progression of secondary diabetic complications. Survival rates for both pancreas and kidney/pancreas transplantations at Mount Sinai exceed national averages.
At Mount Sinai we are currently offering the following special programs within the Kidney/Pancreas Transplantation Program:
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Enrollment in the New York and Mount Sinai Medical Center Living Donor Exchange Program
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Steroid Avoidance after transplantation
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Transplants in high-risk individuals
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Blood type incompatible transplants
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Inpatient evaluation for a kidney transplant
