Summary
Diabetic polyneuropathy is a common, disabling chronic complication of diabetes mellitus. Previous studies have suggested that combined pancreas-kidney transplantation can ameliorate nerve conduction. The relative contribution of the correction of hyperglycaemia and uraemia on nerve function is still a matter of debate. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was assessed before and after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation, and before and after pancreas graft failure in five insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients affected by severe diabetic polyneuropathy. Sensory and motor NCV were recorded in five nerves and expressed as a cumulative index for each patient. Metabolic control was evaluated by fasting blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels. NCV index was below normal values before transplant: –3.8 ± 0.7 (normal value: 0.89), improved 1 and 2 years after transplant: –3.1 ± 1.3 and –2.6 ± 0.9 (p = 0.0019), stabilised until pancreas failure and deteriorated to pre-transplant values 2 years after pancreas graft failure: –3.6 ± 1.0 (p = 0.034). Fasting blood glucose levels worsened after pancreas graft failure. HbA1 c levels, in the normal range during functioning pancreas graft (6.6 ± 0.6 %), deteriorated after its failure (8.0 ± 0.6 %, p = 0.04). Kidney function was preserved. These data support a positive effect of pancreas transplantation per se on NCV in IDDM subjects with diabetic polyneuropathy, thus demonstrating that metabolic control provided by a self-regulated source of insulin not only halts but also ameliorates nerve function, even if polyneuropathy is advanced. [Diabetologia (1997) 40: 1110–1112]
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Received: 14 May 1997 and in revised form: 12 June 1997
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Martinenghi, S., Comi, G., Galardi, G. et al. Amelioration of nerve conduction velocity following simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation is due to the glycaemic control provided by the pancreas. Diabetologia 40, 1110–1112 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250050795
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250050795