Extreme subcutaneous, intramuscular and inhaled insulin resistance treated by pancreas transplantation alone.

Diabetes mellitus with resistance to insulin administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly (DRIASM) is a rare syndrome and is usually treated with continuous intravenous insulin infusion. We present here two cases of DRIASM in 16 and 18 years female patients that were submitted to pancreas transplantation alone (PTA). Both were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as young children and had labile glycemic control with recurrent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis. They had prolonged periods of hospitalization and complications related to their central venous access. Exocrine and endocrine drainages were in the bladder and systemic, respectively. Both presented immediate graft function. In patient 1, enteric conversion was necessary due to reflux pancreatitis. Patient 2 developed mild postoperative hyperglycemia in spite of having normal pancreas allograft biopsy and that was attributed to her immunosuppressive regimen. Patient 1 died 9 months after PTA from septic shock related to pneumonia. In 8 months of follow-up, Patient 2 presented optimal glycemic control without the use of antidiabetic agents. In conclusion, PTA may be an alternative treatment for DRIASM patients.

Donor liver dysfunction: application of a new scoring system to identify the marginal donor.

Livers from marginal donors are increasingly used for transplantation due to the shortage of donor organs. The definition of a marginal donor remains unclear; prediction of organ function is a challenge. In the literature the use of steatotic livers has been associated with poor liver function or even primary dysfunction of the allograft. Tekin et al created a scoring system that classifies a donor as marginal or nonmarginal, using a mathematical model based on donor age and steatosis degree. The aims of this study were to apply the Tekin method to identify marginal and nonmarginal donors and evaluate the influence of the cold ischemia time (CIT) on allograft evolution. We retrospectively reviewed deceased donor liver transplantations performed from October 1995 to March 2006, namely, 177 adult liver transplantations in 163 patients. Fifty-five were excluded due to retransplantation (14) or insufficient data (41). Donor age and macrovesicular steatosis were evaluated according to the mathematical formula proposed by Tekin et al, classifying the donors as marginal versus nonmarginal. The authors also analyzed the CIT, 3-month mortality, and development of primary nonfunction or primary dysfunction. The median donor age was 38.9 years (range, 6-71). The postreperfusion biopsy specimen showed moderate to intense steatosis (>30%) in 14.75% of specimens, with no steatosis or mild steatosis in 85.25%. Sixty-one grafts (50%) developed primary graft dysfunction (PGD): 10 grafts, with primary nonfunction (PNF); and 51 with initial poor function (IPF). Using the criteria provided by Tekin et al, we obtained 41 marginal and 81 nonmarginal allografts. The marginal group showed 61.9% PGD, compared with 59.2% of PGD by the nonmarginal group. The CIT was greater than 12 hours in 5 marginal group transplants and 4 PGD cases (80%). Of the nonmarginal allografts, the CIT was greater than 12 hours in 29.6%, with 75% PGD. The 3-month graft survival rate was 80% in the marginal group with ischemia time more than 12 hours: 86.1% of the same group when CIT was less than 12 hours, and 82.7% in the nonmarginal group. In contrast, when we analyzed the occurrence of allograft dysfunction, the 3-month mortality rate was 34% among, grafts with dysfunction, whereas, in those without initial dysfunction, it was 4.1%. In conclusion, the score suggested by Tekin et al that classifies the donors as ideal (nonmarginal) or marginal was not able to predict initial primary dysfunction.

Effects of metformin on the glycemic control, lipid profile, and arterial blood pressure of type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome already on insulin.

Fifty-seven type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome and on insulin were assessed by a paired analysis before and 6 months after addition of metformin as combination therapy to evaluate the impact of the association on glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipid profile. This was a historical cohort study in which the files of type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome on insulin were reviewed. The body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, A1C level, fasting blood glucose level, daily dose of NPH insulin, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in each patient before the start of metformin and 6 months after the initiation of combination therapy. Glycemic control significantly improved (P < 0.001) after the addition of metformin (1404.4 +/- 565.5 mg/day), with 14% of the 57 patients reaching A1C levels up to 7%, and 53% reaching values up to 8%. There was a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) of total cholesterol (229.0 +/- 29.5 to 214.2 +/- 25.0 mg/dL), BMI (30.7 +/- 5.4 to 29.0 +/- 4.0 kg/m2), waist circumference (124.6 +/- 11.7 to 117.3 +/- 9.3 cm), and daily necessity of insulin. The reduction of total cholesterol occurred independently of the reductions of A1C (9.65 +/- 1.03 to 8.18 +/- 1.01%) and BMI and the reduction of BMI and WC did not interfere with the improvement of A1C. In conclusion, our study showed the efficacy of the administration of metformin and insulin simultaneously without negative effects. No changes were detected in HDL-cholesterol or blood pressure.

Pancreas retransplantation: outcomes of 20 cases.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate our initial experience with pancreas retransplantation. From January 26, 1996 to February 2005, 285 pancreas transplantations were performed, including 20 (7%) retransplants. The causes of primary graft loss were graft thrombosis in 11 (55%, 7 venous and 4 arterial); 4 (20%) chronic rejections; 2 (10%) ischemia/reperfusion injury; 1 severe graft pancreatitis; 1 primary nonfunction; and 1 sepsis. Venous drainage was placed in the iliac vessels in 14 (70%), vena cava in 5 (25%), and portal drainage in 1. The exocrine drainage was vesical in 16 (80%) and enteric in 4 (20%). In 14 cases (70%), the primary graft was removed before and in 6 (30%) at the time of retransplantation. Immunosuppression was based on antilymphocyte induction, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids in all patients. One-year patient and graft survivals were 95% and 85%. In conclusion, pancreas retransplants were feasible with results comparable to a primary pancreas transplantation.

Hypertension and diabetes. Clinical problems.

The choice of an appropriate antihypertensive agent and the hazards of postural hypotension are common problems faced in the treatment of diabetic hypertensive patients. The results of 3 studies addressing these problems are described in this report. In the first study, indoramin, an alpha-blocking agent, was administered to patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and mild to moderate hypertension. Blood pressure control was achieved in 57% of patients with mild, and in none with moderate hypertension. The blood glucose and insulin responses to an oral 50g glucose loading, as well as the blood concentrations of HbA1 did not change during therapy. Seven patients were excluded because of side effects. In 4 of them postural hypotension was observed. In the second study, the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, administered to patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and mild to moderate hypertension, were evaluated. Blood pressure control was achieved in 78% of the patients on captopril (n = 14) and in 74% of patients on enalapril therapy (n = 23). Symptomatic postural hypotension (n = 2) and hyperkalaemia (n = 2) were observed with both drugs. Significant reductions in 24-hour urinary protein or albumin excretion were detected in 12 patients on enalapril therapy. No changes in 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and HbA1 levels were observed during therapy with ACE inhibitors. In the third study, dopaminergic antagonist agents were evaluated in diabetic patients with orthostatic hypotension. In 7 patients metoclopramide (20mg intravenously) reduced the fall in mean arterial pressure induced by upright tilt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship between insulin antibodies and metabolic control in type I diabetes mellitus.

1. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether a change in insulin therapy from bovine to purified porcine insulin would result in a decreased level of insulin antibodies (IA) in type I diabetic patients and whether there would be better metabolic control. 2. Insulin antibodies were measured by ELISA. Fifteen type I diabetic patients were prospectively followed for 8 months with monthly evaluations after changing insulin therapy from bovine to purified porcine insulin. 3. Group I patients (N = 4) had IA greater than or equal to 1.5 (value obtained by dividing the ELISA absorbance of the tested serum by the absorbance of a standard serum) at the beginning of the study. For group I patients, the modification of insulin therapy caused a 57% reduction in insulin antibody levels, and this reduction was correlated with a decrease in 24-hour glycosuria (rs = 0.66, P less than 0.001) and glycated protein (rs = 0.65, P less than 0.01). Group II patients (N = 8) had IA less than 1.5 and greater than or equal to 0.3 and group III (N = 3) had IA less than 0.3. Insulin antibody levels were unchanged during the follow-up period in both group II and group III. 4. We also studied endogenous insulin secretion, measured as fasting C-peptide, and its relationships with metabolic control and insulin antibody levels. Patients with residual insulin secretion (C-peptide greater than 60 pmol/l) showed lower levels of 24-h glycosuria, glycated protein and glycated hemoglobin. Furthermore, in this group of patients a negative correlation was found between C-peptide and insulin antibody levels (rs = -0.36, P less than 0.01). 5. We conclude that insulin antibodies could be one of the factors having a detrimental effect on metabolic control.

Non-obese adult onset diabetes with oral hypoglycemic agent failure: islet cell autoantibodies or reversible beta cell refractoriness?

Pancreatic beta cell function and insulin sensitivity, analyzed by the homeostasis model assessment, before and after 24 weeks of insulin therapy were studied and correlated with the presence of autoantibodies against beta cells (islet cell and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies), in a group of 18 Brazilian lean adult non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with oral hypoglycemic agent failure (OHAF). Median fasting plasma glucose before and after insulin treatment was 19.1 and 8.5 mmol/l, respectively (P < 0.001); median HbA1c was 11.7% before vs 7.2% after insulin treatment (P < 0.001). Forty-four percent of the patients were positive (Ab+) to at least one autoantibody. Fasting C-peptide levels were lower in Ab+ than Ab- patients, both before (Ab+: 0.16+/-0.09 vs Ab-: 0.41+/-0.35 nmol/l, P < 0.003) and after insulin treatment (Ab+: 0.22+/-0.13 vs Ab-: 0.44+/-0.24 nmol/l, P < 0.03). Improvement of H was seen in Ab- (median before: 7.3 vs after insulin therapy: 33.4%, P = 0.003) but not in Ab+ patients (median before: 6.6 vs after insulin therapy: 20.9%). These results show that the OHAF observed in the 18 NIDDM patients studied was due mainly to two major causes: autoantibodies and beta cell desensitization. Autoantibodies against beta cells could account for 44% of OHAF, but Ab- patients may still present beta cell function recovery, mainly after a period of beta cell rest with insulin therapy. However, the effects of beta cell function recovery on the restoration of the response to oral hypoglycemic agents need to be determined.

Insulin autoantibodies in first degree relatives of type I diabetic patients.

1. Insulin autoantibodies (IAA) of first-degree relatives of type I diabetic patients and recent-onset type I diabetics were measured by radioimmunoassay. A cut-off of 60 nU/ml was established on the basis of the values of normal control individuals. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was 9.2% for a moderately positive serum (1908 +/- 176 nU/ml (mean +/- SD), N = 7; range, 1708 to 2158 nU/ml). The interassay coefficient of variation was 23.8% for a negative (normal control) serum (28.1 +/- 6.7 nU/ml, N = 6; range, 22 to 39 nU/ml) and 14.5% in a highly positive serum (6185 +/- 899 nU/ml, N = 7; range, 5053 to 7009 nU/ml). 2. Insulin autoantibody levels (mean +/- SEM) were 19.3 +/- 2.8 nU/ml (range, -19 to 40 nU/ml) in 25 controls, 24.8 +/- 3.4 nU/ml (range, -17 to 59 nU/ml) in 41 type II diabetic patients, 18.5 +/- 2.4 nU/ml (range, -58 to 268 nU/ml) in 171 first-degree relatives of type I diabetic patients and 208.9 +/- 87.0 nU/ml (range, 10 to 1101 nU/ml) in 16 recent-onset type I diabetic patients. IAA levels were significantly higher in the last group compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). 3. None of the controls or type II diabetics exceeded the upper limit of normality. In contrast, 9 of 171 (5.3%) first-degree relatives and 9 of 16 (56.0%) recent-onset type I diabetic patients had IAA levels above the 60 nU/ml cut-off point.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical trial of Myrcia uniflora and Bauhinia forficata leaf extracts in normal and diabetic patients.

1. Myrcia uniflora and Bauhinia forficata were compared with placebo for their hypoglycemic effect in randomized cross-over double-blind studies in 2 groups of normal subjects (10 subjects each) and 2 groups of Type II diabetic patients (18 in the M. uniflora group and 16 in the B. forficata group). The protocol with each plant lasted 56 days. 2. After the ingestion of infusions of 3 g leaves/day of M. uniflora and B. forficata leaves, no acute or chronic effects on plasma glucose levels or glycated hemoglobin were found in either group. However, plasma insulin levels in the diabetic group were lower after M. uniflora than after placebo. 3. Among other clinical parameters tested, a statistically significant difference was found only in the alkaline phosphatase level after placebo compared with that after M. uniflora in the normal group. 4. There were no differences in any clinical parameters after the use of placebo or of B. forficata. 5. We conclude that infusions prepared from the leaves of M. uniflora or B. forficata have no hypoglycemic effect on normal subjects or Type II diabetic patients.

Risk factors for the development of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus in simultaneous pancreas and kidney recipients.

We sought to determine the risk factors involved in the development of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) following simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation. Correlations were sought between tacrolimus (FK-506) levels/dose 2-hour capillary glucose (CG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)), cyclosporine (CSA) levels/dose with HbA1c, 2-hour CG with prednisone dose and body mass index (BMI) and PTDM. Four patients (9.3%) developed PTDM. Three treated with FK-506 had altered 2-hour CG at 3 months after transplantation; 1 prescribed CSA displayed diabetes diagnosed after 1 year. There was no statistically significant difference among HbA(1c) values and FK-506 (P =.18) or CSA (P =.81) doses or FK-506 (P =.53) and CSA (P =.54) levels. In contrast, there was a statistically significant relationship between elevated 2-hour CG (> or =200 mg/dL) and daily prednisone dose (9.7 mg vs. 16.2 mg; P =.003). There was no correlation between 2-hour CG and FK-506 dose (P =.084) or FK-506 levels (P =.075). The greater BMI correlated with an increased risk of PTDM (21.25 +/- 3.13 kg/m(2) vs 24.67 +/- 2.38 kg/m(2); P =.034). Two-hour CG may be a useful tool to screen the diabetogenic effects of corticosteroids. A BMI increase should be discouraged due to the risk of PTDM.

Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: infectious complications and microbiological aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of the infectious complications among simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations (SPKT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the first 45 SPKT the mean age was 34 years (range, 21 to 49) and the mean duration of follow-up 13 months (range, 2 to 27 months). RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (51%) presented at least one to three episodes (1.7 mean) of infectious complications that needed hospitalization. The etiology of the infections included 71% bacterial (44% gram-negative rods and 27% gram-positive cocci), 16% viral (12% from CMV and 4% from Herpes sp) and 13% fungal (8% by Candida sp and 4% by others fungus). Wound and urinary infections were most frequent, occurring in 22% and 28% of the patients, respectively. All patients who were submitted to vesical drainage developed infections in contrast a rate of only 44% among patients undergoing enteric drainage. CONCLUSION: Infectious complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality following simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, especially with vesical drainage. The use of enteric drainage combined with administration of broad spectrum prophylactic antibiotics is recommended.

Latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult (LADA) in a Brazilian Indian.

CONTEXT: Latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult (LADA) as originally described represents perhaps as many as 10 - 20% of adult-onset patients with diabetes. DESIGN: case report. CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old Brazilian Xavante-Jê Indian with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of the Adult (LADA) is described, coming from the Sangradouro community in Poxoréu, Mato Grosso. The onset of diabetes after reaching 25 years of age, the evolution to insulin deficiency after a period of insulin-independence and the presence of auto-antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) characteristic of LADA were present. This patient may represent the first case of LADA in a Brazilian with full Indian heritage. Further studies are necessary to verify the prevalence of this new type of diabetes in this population that does not have Caucasoid admixture and has a particular environmental background.

[The non-insulin-dependent phase of type I diabetes mellitus]. / Aspectos da fase não-insulinodependent do diabetes mellitus do tipo I.

Case report on a child whose type I diabetes mellitus was diagnosed 23 months before the appearance of overt glucose intolerance. In this pre-IDDM stage of DMI were observed secondary enuresis, decreased growth speed, transient hyperglycemia and asymptomatic glycosuria. These alterations may represent the earliest clinical manifestation of impaired beta cell function. Immunologic markers (ICA and/or AAI) of DMI and abnormalities of the first-phase insulin secretion in response to intravenous glucose also may precede by several months the most common clinical picture of type I diabetes as they were detected in this child. If possible, markers and alterations should be tested in such patients and their young relatives with DMI in order to detect high risk individuals who may develop DMI. Such and accurate predictive ability should be a prerequisite to institution of appropriate therapy to preventing further beta cell destruction and severe metabolic decompensation, thus having the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality from new onset DMI.

[Diabetic ketoacidosis in a Krenak Indian]. / Cetoacidose diabética em índio Krenak.

The authors present a case of spontaneous ketoacidosis developed by one 32 years Krenak indian. The patient denied alcoholism and his mother had Type II diabetes for the last 3 years. The search to islets and insulin autoantibodies was negative in this patient. The basal C-peptide was found normal during follow-up. The patient received a short insulin therapy and now he shows good metabolic control (normal glycosylated hemoglobin) with oral hypoglycemic treatment. The environment influence, indian customs and the rarity of spontaneous ketoacidosis in these individuals were reviewed and discussed.

[Diabetic ketoacidosis induced by immunologic insulin resistance]. / Cetoacidose diabética desencadeada por resistência imunológica à insulina.

Although rare, ketoacidosis may be induced by the occurrence of antibody mediated insulin resistance. Cases of 3 patients with ketoacidosis precipitated by immunologic insulin resistance (IIR) are reported. CASE REPORT--Three patients were admitted to the primary care unit of Hospital São Paulo in Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Demographic data of the patients (HML, DRJ and DIS) included: age (46.39 and 54 y.o.); sex (2F, 1M); diabetes mellitus (2 DM II and 1 pancreatic); duration of diabetes (6, 11 and 9 years) and BMI (17.5; 25.5 and 24.3 kg/m2. Admission laboratory data were: glucose (40, 38 and 22 mmol/L); pH (7.2; 6.9 and 7.2) and all had ketonuria. Insulin requirements for metabolic control were: HML: 1494U; DRJ: 1496U; DIS: 450U in a period of: 212, 206 and 72h. The plasmatic leves of Anti insulin antibodies (IA) measured by RIA (nU/mL) and ELISA (EI), where: HML: 7186, 3.26; DRJ: 7879, 3.42 and DIS: 8377, 2.88. HI was associated with marked decrease of both, insulin requirements and IA (HML: 3393, 1.39 after 10 months and DRJ: 4673, 2.34; DIS: 1510, after 18 months) at follow-up. DISCUSSION--The High Insulin requirements and time necessary to achieve the metabolic control guided us to the diagnosis of IIR. It was confirmed by high levels of AI and by the improvement in the metabolic control after the introduction of HI. CONCLUSION--The physician must be alert to severe IIR if there is no response after standard therapy to ketoacidosis. HI can be considered a valid alternative of treatment for IIR.

Risk factors of pancreatic graft loss and death of receptor after simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation.

Simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplants require a long graft survival and the recipient to present with more benefits than risks. We evaluated the risk factors of receptor's death and pancreatic graft loss on 2 occasions (3 and 12 months' postoperatively) in 292 transplants in whom 22 variables were evaluated. Variables were selected, 9 receivers, 8 donors, and 5 variables related to the surgical procedure. All independent variables were compared with the dependent variables of pancreatic graft losses and patient deaths. Those considered significant according to univariate analysis were analyzed by using multiple logistic regression techniques in an attempt to develop a mathematical model capable of predicting both pancreatic graft and patient losses. Lastly, based on the resulting models with all significant variables, scores were created to determine the risk of patient death and pancreatic graft loss. In the adjusted multivariate analysis, the significant variables were donor age, receiver's body mass index, initial pancreas implant, iliac venous drainage, and use of induction therapy related to pancreatic loss within 3 months after transplantation. Independent risk factors regarding the loss of patients within 12 months were body mass index and receptor induction therapy. The variables related to pancreatic graft loss within 3 months were donor age, receiver body mass index, initial use of pancreatic graft, iliac venous drainage, and induction therapy; these variables can be used for creating a risk score. The donor body mass index and the induction therapy were independently related to patient loss within 12 months after the transplant.

Delayed kidney allograft function after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) is one of the treatments for insulin-dependent chronic renal failure patients. METHODS: One-year patient and kidney allograft survival rates of 150 patients undergoing SPKT were subjected to Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Uni- and multivariate methods identified risk factors involved in allograft and patient survival. RESULTS: One-year patient and kidney allograft survival rates were 82% and 80%, respectively. Delayed graft function (DGF) (P = .001; hazard ratio [HR]5.41) and acute kidney rejection episodes (P = .016; HR 3.36) were related to 1 year patient survival as well as intra-abdominal infection (IAI) rates. (IAI). One-year kidney allograft survival was related to DGF (P = .013; odds ratio [OR] 3.39), acute rejection (P = .001; OR 4.74), and IAI (P = .003, OR 6.29). DGF was related to a time on dialysis >27 months (P = .046; OR 2.59), cold kidney ischemia time >14 hours (P = .027; OR 2.94), donor age >25 years (P = .03; OR 2.82), and donor serum sodium concentration >155 mEq/L (P < .0001; OR 1.09). Female kidney to male recipient in 17% of the cases did not increase the risk of DGF. We observed an important correlation between donor serum sodium and creatinine (P < .0001), which suggested undertreatment of diabetes insipidus secondary to brain death. CONCLUSIONS: DGF, acute rejection, and IAI were the main determinants of survival after SPKT. Improving the care of deceased donors may reduce DGF occurrence.

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for early loss of pancreas grafts among simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the risk factors for pancreas graft loss within 3 months postoperatively among 170 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT) we examined 38 variables. METHODS: Twenty-two variables were related to recipients; 12 to donors and 4 to the surgical procedure. In addition the latest follow-up dates as well as the transplant and/or death dates. Independent variables were examined with reference to the dependent pancreatic loss variable, excluding losses owing to deaths. Variables with statistical significance were analyzed to predict early graft loss. RESULTS: Univariate analyses determined the following significant variables: kidney cold ischemia time, older donors, non-white donors, death cause related to vascular disease, wound infection, and length of extended hospitalization. However, multivariate analysis showed that only donor age and kidney cold ischemia time were significant predictors for early pancreatic graft loss. CONCLUSION: Donor age and kidney cold ischemia time were independently related to pancreatic loss after SPKT within 3 months posttransplantation.

Intestinal obstruction due to internal hernia following pancreas transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation has evolved as the best treatment for type 1 diabetic patients at end-stage renal disease. The surgical complication rate is high, which is an important barrier to the success of this procedure. The frequent complications that require relaparotomies include fistulas, graft thromboses, and intra-abdominal abscesses. Intestinal obstructions after pancreas transplantation due to internal herniation are not common. PURPOSE: The objective of this article was to review the literature about this problem and describe our personal experience in pancreas transplantation. METHODS: We examined the cases of small bowel obstruction secondary to an internal hernia after following 292 pancreas transplantations in our center from 2000 to 2009 as well as performed a Medline literature review. RESULTS: Only 2 articles described the diagnosis and treatment of internal hernias after pancreas transplantation. However, both contribution were from the same center reporting the same 3 cases, with surgical versus radiologic perspectives. We have described our 2 cases of young pancreas-kidney transplant patients who presented with acute intestinal obstruction due to internal hernia. CONCLUSION: Although internal hernias are rare, they are potentially fatal and difficult to diagnose when they occur after pancreas transplantation. Detection with early surgery demands a high degree of clinical vigilance.