Recurrence of autoimmune diabetes mellitus in recipients of cadaveric pancreatic grafts

Insulin-dependent diabetes can re-occur in patients who receive a pancreas transplant even though they receive immunosuppressive drugs. This was demonstrated in two diabetic patients who received a pancreas transplant from a cadaver. Neither transplant was a good match. Both patients received cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisolone to suppress graft rejection. However, the autoimmune process believed to underly type 1 diabetes continued to destroy the beta cells in the transplanted pancreas. Both patients had to resume insulin injections.