High levels of C-reactive protein after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation predict pancreas graft-related complications and graft survival

Abstract

Although pancreas graft-related complications are frequent after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK), there are no parameters predicting the risk for these complications. A two-center retrospective study was performed in 97 patients who underwent SPK to investigate the peak serum value of c-reactive protein (CRP) during the first 72 hr after SPK in view of graft-related complications and graft survival. Mean peak CRP was 115.6±71.5 mg/L. Mean peak CRP was higher in patients needing relaparotomy (n=31) (136.4 vs. 105.8 mg/L, P =0.048), especially when postoperative bleeding was excluded (P =0.015); in patients with graft pancreatitis (P =0.03); and in patients with graft loss (n=19; P Conclusion. Our findings suggest that peak CRP is a helpful parameter in predicting pancreas graft-related complications and pancreas graft survival after SPK. Our results also stress the importance of early graft damage in pancreas transplantation.