Excluded Candidates

Individuals who are excluded from pancreas transplantation are those who are:

• Over 60 years old
• Obese with a Body Mass Index of > 35
• HIV Positive

All potential recipients must go through an evaluation process and work-up.

Components of the work-up include:

• Evaluation by the transplant nephrologist and surgeon
• A dental check-up is required if the recipient has not seen a dentist in the past year
• Chest x-ray
• If the recipient if 50 years of age or older, a colonoscopy is required
• A gallbladder ultrasound is needed to check for possible gallstones
• EKG
• Stress test
• Cardiac catheterization
• If the recipient has a history of asthma, smoking, or lung problems, Pulmonary Function Testing and Arterial Blood Gas may be required
• For individuals seeking a Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA) only a referral or evaluation by an endocrinologist and an evaluation by a transplant clinical psychologist are required
• If there is a past history of ulcers, the recipient has current GI symptoms, or the candidate's stool is positive for blood, an Upper GI Endoscopy will be needed
• All females must have a Pap smear if one has not been done within the past year
• Females who are 40 years of age or older (or are 35 years of age or older with a family history of breast cancer) are required to have a mammogram if one has not been done within the past two years

Lab work that will be done includes:

• Complete blood count, electrolytes, glycohemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, venereal disease test
• Hepatitis A, B, & C
• HIV antibody and other Viral tests
• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) for men 40 years of age or older
• Other blood work as indicated
• Other tests are ordered based on the type of surgical procedure and the findings from the physical examination