Progress in Pancreas Transplantation in Korea.
- Author:
Young Koog CHEON
1
Author Information
1. Institute for Digestive Research and Digestive Disease Center, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Editorial
- Keywords:
Pancreas transplantation;
Diabetes;
Islet transplantation
- MeSH:
Glucose;
Graft Rejection;
Heart;
Homeostasis;
Immunosuppression;
Islets of Langerhans Transplantation;
Korea;
Liver Transplantation;
Lung;
Pancreas;
Pancreas Transplantation;
Transplants
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2011;80(2):164-166
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pancreas transplantation is the most effective cure for type I diabetes because it is able to restore normal glucose homeostasis. Over the last 2 decades, improvements in immunosuppressive therapy have been paralleled by a marked decrease in surgical complications, by superior antimicrobial prophylaxis and therapy, and by better techniques for diagnosing and treating pancreas graft rejection. The result has been a steady increase in the number of pancreas transplants. However, differently from heart, lung and liver transplantation, pancreas transplantation cannot be considered a life-saving procedure and the advantages in the long term should be carefully considered and balanced with the morbidity and mortality associated to the surgical procedure and the side-effect of immunosuppression.
