Islet Transplants Result in Insulin-Independent Diabetics

Researchers have achieved insulin independence in four of six patients with long-term type 1 diabetes by using one infusion of insulin-producing islet cells from a single donor pancreas. The results were reported in the March 2004 issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

Patients in whom type 1 diabetes was complicated by hypoglycemic unawareness participated in the trial. The combination of improved islet preparation techniques and optimized recipient immunosuppression contributed to the successful outcome. Insulin independence has now been maintained for more than one year in four recipients, for more than two years in three recipients, and for more than three years in two recipients.

A new generation anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody administered in this trial during the first two weeks after transplant was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Diabetes Center (CA, USA). This antibody is directed against the subset of white blood cells that cause type 1 diabetes and mediate rejection of transplants. The study participants also received two other immunosuppression drugs.

"This trial also brings us a step closer to minimizing the requirements for immunosuppression in islet transplant recipients,” said Dr. Bluestone, co-principal investigator.




Related Links:
U. of California, SF, Diabetes Center