Authors
  Navarro X.  Kennedy WR.  Aeppli D.  Sutherland DE.
Title
  Neuropathy and mortality in diabetes: influence of pancreas
  transplantation.
Source
  Muscle & Nerve.  19(8):1009-16, 1996 Aug.
Abstract
  We collected information on patient status and cause of death for 545
  insulin-dependent diabetic subjects who had cardiorespiratory reflex and
  nerve conduction tests performed to determine if presence and severity of
  autonomic and somatic neuropathy is associated with mortality and if a
  functioning pancreas transplantation (PTx) influences mortality. Follow-up
  was 12-138 months. Abnormal cardiorespiratory reflexes were present in 417
  patients and there was abnormal nerve conduction in 392 patients.
  Mortality rates for patients with abnormal tests were higher (P < 0.0001)
  than for patients with normal tests. A total neuropathy score that
  included cardiorespiratory and nerve conduction test scores predicted
  survival better than separate scores. Patients with moderate neuropathy,
  but not those with severe neuropathy, who retained a functioning PTx, had
  longer survival times than patients whose PTx failed in the first 3
  months. Considering only patients transplanted after 1985, those with
  moderate neuropathy who retained a functioning PTx had even longer
  survival times than nontransplanted patients.