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Pulmonary function in patients with type 1 diabetes before and after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation.

Dieterle CD, Schmauss S, Arbogast H, Domsch C, Huber RM, Landgraf R

Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Center and Pulmonary Division, Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. christoph.dieterle@med.uni-muenchen.de

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary function is impaired in type 1 diabetes mellitus and is associated with the quality of metabolic control. Correction of chronic hyperglycemia by pancreas transplantation may ameliorate pulmonary function. METHODS: Lung volume and diffusing capacity were measured in 75 uremic patients with type 1 diabetes and a long diabetes duration waiting for a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation (SPK). In addition 85 patients after SPK and 20 patients after kidney transplantation alone (KA) were investigated. In a subgroup of 30 patients, data before and after SPK were available for prospective analysis. RESULTS: Reduced lung volume and diffusing capacity were found in type 1 diabetic patients before transplantation. Nearly all parameters of pulmonary function improved after SPK and KA. A significant change was found for forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (Tiffenau index). A significant amelioration of diffusing capacity was only found in the SPK group but not in the KA group. The prospective investigation revealed significant improvements of pulmonary function after SPK: FEV1 (P=0.001), FVC, (P=0,006), Tiffenau index (P=0.03), and Hb-corrected diffusing capacity (carbon monoxide transfer factor, TCO), P=0.03; transfer coefficient (KCO=TCO corrected for alveolar volume), P=0.01. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation is able to attain long-term normoglycemia and to improve pulmonary function in uremic type 1 diabetic patients.

Published 13 March 2007 in Transplantation, 83(5): 566-9.
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