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Home > Transplant

Pancreas Transplantation

Originating in 1992, the Pancreas Transplantation Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the premier centers in the United States. It is now the most active pancreas transplant program in Illinois and consistently ranks among the top five of more than 90 programs in activity. Innovative approaches to anti-rejection therapy have resulted in outcomes that meet or exceed the national outcomes in recipients of pancreas transplants. New immunosuppression protocols that completely avoid the use of prednisone have contributed greatly to the success of pancreas transplantation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Northwestern Memorial offers several treatment options for patients with diabetes interested in pancreas transplantation for amelioration of type 1 diabetes:

• Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) for patients with type 1 diabetes and renal failure that are considering a kidney transplant. Now it is possible for both the kidney disease and diabetes to be corrected with a combined transplant of both the kidney and pancreas from the same donor during the same operation.

• Pancreas after kidney transplantation (PAK) for patients with type 1 diabetes with a functioning kidney transplant that continue to have diabetes. A pancreas transplant will ameliorate the diabetes without a significant change in the immunosuppression needed for the kidney transplant.

• Pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) for patients with severe diabetes that is difficult to control with conventional insulin therapy that still have normal kidneys and do not need a kidney transplant. Patients with labile diabetes or problems with hypoglycemia that receive a successful pancreas transplant will no longer require insulin therapy for nearly perfect blood sugar control.

A Multidisciplinary Approach
A strong and experienced medical/surgical faculty has made important advances in the field of pancreas transplantation. Northwestern Memorial pioneered the first clinical research trials of steroid sparing immunosuppression in pancreas transplantation. This has resulted in exemplary outcomes and improved patient well-being placing the pancreas program at the nation's top. Northwestern Memorial's outstanding nurses work together with the physicians to provide the best patient care anywhere. A highly integrated physician specialty group provides the latest technology in diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical/surgical care - making tomorrows breakthroughs present today.

Contact
Galter Pavilion
675 N. St. Clair Street, Suite 17-200
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 695- 0828