The authors after presenting the magnitude of the problem of diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy in Brazil and in the world made a review upon the point of view of the nephrologist about pancreas and pancreatic islet transplantation centered on the risks and benefits of the simultaneous pancreatic kidney transplantation (SPKT) for the diabetic with end-stage renal failure. In the paper it is stressed the importance of the interaction between the endocrinologist and the nephrologist for improving the survival of the diabetic patient with nephropathy and for a local definition about the viability and validity of establishing a SPKT program.
Diabetes mellitus; Pancreas; islets of Langerhans; Pancreas transplantation; Pancreatic islet cell transplantation