Adipose Tissue Can Have a Protective Effect on Outcome After Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplantation in Non-Obese Recipients

Background: Obesity is suggested to impair the outcome after simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation, which affects survival, but the quantity and distribution of adipose tissue is not yet considered in obesity assessment. We aimed to evaluate the impact of body composition on outcome after simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation. Material/Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 40 patients who underwent simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation due to type 1 diabetes mellitus with consecutive end-stage renal disease. Uni-and multivariate analyses, including donor’s characteristics, were performed. Results: Only 6 (15%) recipients were obese. The incidence of postoperative complications was correlated with lower body fat proportion (p=0.03). This correlation remained significant in the multivariate analysis (p=0.015). Nevertheless, obesity was significantly associated with worse overall survival (p<0.001). Visceral tissue proportion was correlated with a higher level of glycated hemoglobin in long-term follow-up (p=0.003). Conclusions: Fat quantity and distribution should be included in the assessment of obesity. A protective effect of adipose tissue was detected on outcome after simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation in normosthenic recipients, but obesity still appears to have a negative effect on outcome after transplantation. Visceral fat distribution can promote de novo diabetes mellitus.