The impact of pancreas transplantation on diabetic complications: A systematic review.
Giri, G., et al.Transplantation Reviews 2025; 39(2): 100910.
Aims
This study aimed to examine how pancreas transplantation impacted secondary complications related to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) .
Interventions
The MEDLINE database was searched for relevant literature.
Participants
45 studies were included in the review.
Outcomes
The main outcomes of interest were changes (improvement/no changes/reduction) in diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease following pancreas transplantation.
Follow-up
N/A
CET Conclusions
This systematic review summarises the literature looking at progression of diabetic complications following solid-organ pancreas transplantation. The authors identified 45 retrospective studies and provide a narrative summary of the effects of transplantation on retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. In general, transplantation appears to slow the progression of complications. Whilst the review does provide a good summary of the literature, there are some limitations. Methodology is poorly described with no evidence of prospective protocol registration, and only one database was searched with no description of inclusion/exclusion criteria or screening methods. No formal risk of bias assessment was described. The focus is primarily on peripheral neuropathy, with limited discussion of autonomic neuropathy or gastroparesis which can severely affect some patients post-transplant.
Trial registration
N/A