The present status and perspective of pancreas transplantation in Japan

Two hundred and ten cases of pancreas transplantation from deceased and non-heart beating donors have been performed in 17 institutions in Japan until the end of 2014 since April, 2000. The following donor- and recipient-related factors were analyzed; i.e., age and gender of donor and recipient, cause of death, histories of diabetes and dialysis, waiting period, total cold ischemic time, operative procedure, immunosuppression and survival rates of patient and graft. The patient survivals were 96.5%, 95.8%, and 95.8% while the pancreas graft survivals were 84.7%, 77.0%, and 70.4% at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years posttransplantation, respectively. In spite of donor poor conditions which were mostly marginal (67.1%) in Japan, the outcome of pancreas transplants was considered to be comparable to that of the US and Europe.