Article Sidebar
Published:
Jun 20, 2017Article Details
Copyright remains in the Author’s name. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial Works License. Authors are required to complete and sign an Author Agreement form that outlines Author and Publisher rights and terms of publication. The Agreement form should be uploaded along with other submissions files and any submission will be considered incomplete without it [forthcoming].
Material submitted for publication in the SAMJ is accepted provided it has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Please inform the editorial team if the main findings of your paper have been presented at a conference and published in abstract form, to avoid copyright infringement. The SAMJ does not hold itself responsible for statements made by the authors.
Previously published images
If an image/figure has been previously published, permission to reproduce or alter it must be obtained by the authors from the original publisher and the figure legend must give full credit to the original source. This credit should be accompanied by a letter indicating that permission to reproduce the image has been granted to the author/s. This letter should be uploaded as a supplementary file during submission.
Main Article Content
Transplantation for diabetic nephropathy at Groote Schuur Hospital
Abstract
Over a period of 6 years, 9 patients with diabetic nephropathy received renal allografts at Groote Schuur Hospital. This low figure represents 2,8% of the total number of renal transplants done at our institution, and is evidence of concern about the apparent poor results of transplantation in these patients. After 2 years, patients and graft survival rates in diabetics were 87% and 62% respectively. Vascular disease was a major problem. Six patients developed limb gangrene, and symptomatic coronary and cerebrovascular disease developed in 2 patients. Infections were common and included wound sepsis, cellulitis, candidiasis and urinary tract infections. Diabetes was poorly controlled after transplantation in 5 patients. Proliferative retinopathy was present in 6 patients but remained stable after transplantation.
Despite very strict selection criteria, the results of renal transplantation in diabetic patients remain poor. Better treatment strategies are needed to justify acceptance of these patients for transplantation.
