PANCREAS
ORGANS – PANCREAS
Medical Journey Begins In early 2019 , Glover felt poorly and had very little energy , so she visited an urgent care clinic . Blood tests showed very high levels creatinine ( a waste product produced by muscles ), indicating that her kidneys were failing . Glover started kidney dialysis but didn ’ t understand why until a kidney biopsy revealed that she suffered from a rare condition called pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis .
Glover received various treatments for her autoimmune disease , including steroids , chemotherapy , blood transfusions , and plasmapheresis , which separates different components in the blood and removes plasma . By that time , she developed a condition called foot drop , which made it hard to lift the front part of her foot . She couldn ’ t walk without falling , nor could she drive . “ I ’ d always been a high-energy , active person , and now I could hardly function ,” Glover says . “ I wasn ’ t my normal self .”
The Decision to Move Forward Throughout Glover ’ s ordeal , her local kidney doctor was hesitant to refer her for an organ transplant . “ In the summer of 2020 , he said , ‘ I think it ’ s time ,’” she recalls . When Glover came to the CTI in July , she was unsure about the path forward . “ The transplant sounded like a scary process , but I figured that the low blood sugars were going to kill me if the autoimmune disease didn ’ t .”
A few weeks later , the CTI called Glover to let her know that a kidney and pancreas were available for her . “ When we arrived , the surgeon explained the process and told us that it ’ s not uncommon for people to decide transplantation isn ’ t for them and then go home ,” Glover says . “ He was incredibly supportive and gave us a choice .”
Glover asked herself if she was meant to go forward with the transplant . “ It weighed heavily on my mind ,” she says , “ but getting that call was God saying that there was no question .”
Expanded Criteria for Transplantation While Glover ’ s kidneys were failing , her type 1 diabetes meant that her pancreas failed to produce insulin . Over time , diabetes can cause kidney damage . Douglas Anderson , MD , the CTI surgical director for pancreas transplants , participated in Glover ’ s transplant . “ Because her diabetes could affect her new kidney , we thought there was a benefit to treating her diabetes at the same time by giving her a kidney-pancreas transplant ,” Dr . Anderson says . A new pancreas would produce insulin , thus curing Glover ’ s diabetes .
At age 61 , Glover was older than most simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant recipients . “ Traditionally , pancreas transplants are directed toward younger patients with type 1 diabetes , but we ’ ve made a conscious effort to broaden some of the criteria for transplantation ,” Dr . Anderson says . “ These are potentially older recipients and patients with higher body mass indexes .”
Expanded criteria allow more patients to access pancreas and combined kidney-pancreas transplants . Dr . Anderson says that this shift stemmed not from the availability of more organs , but rather “ from an understanding that a larger population of patients would benefit .”
Still , not every 60-year-old patient with diabetes is a candidate for a pancreas transplant . “ As patients get older , we do have to be more cognizant of other health issues ,” Dr . Anderson says . “ If the patient is otherwise healthy and doing well , though , this may be an option .”
Now 63 , Glover once again has the energy to pursue her passions . Her need for bloodwork has tapered down from three times a week to once a month . Her weight rebounded from 95 pounds , she ’ s no longer diabetic , and she walks five miles each day .
“ There ’ s still a chance that the autoimmune disease could attack my new kidney , but I can ’ t live in fear of that ,” Glover says . “ I ’ m cherishing my time with my husband , children , and especially my grandchildren .”
26 UAB CTI Report