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Pancreas Transplant Cuts
Cardiovascular Risks in Diabetics
posted 07/21/04
Patients with type 1 diabetes who
undergo pancreas transplantation achieve vascular improvements which indicate a
reduction in their risk for cardiovascular disease-related events.
Dr. Jennifer Larsen of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha and
colleagues analyzed carotid intimal thickness in 25 successful recipients of
pancreas transplants. Such thickness, they point out has been shown to correlate
with cardiovascular risks and events.
These findings were compared with those in 20 patients with type 1 diabetes but
without significant nephropathy, 16 nondiabetic patients who had received kidney
transplants, and 32 normal controls.
After pancreas transplantation, patients' hemoglobin A1c levels returned to
normal. Their creatinine levels also fell but were still higher than normal.
However, by 1.8 years after transplant, carotid intimal medial thickness had
decreased and was no longer different from normal controls.
There was no significant post-transplant change in blood pressure, body mass
index, fasting lipid levels, or use of hypolipidemic agents.
Despite the beneficial effects on glucose and neuropathy and nephropathy after
transplant, the researchers observe, "cardiovascular disease events remain the
primary cause of mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal
disease."
"This study," they conclude, "suggests that cardiovascular disease risk, future
events, and mortality should improve after pancreas transplantation in the
absence of other significant, untreated cardiovascular disease risk factors."
Source: Diabetes In Control.com: Diabetes Care 2004;27:1706-1711.
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