New Technique for Islet Cell Transplant

A new, minimally invasive technique has been developed to transplant healthy islet cells into patients with type 1 diabetes in order to restore insulin, according to a recent study.

"We used ultrasound guidance to inject donor cells into the portal vein of diabetic patients, which is accessed through the skin,” said study co-author Saravanan Krishnamoorthy, M.D., a radiology resident at the University of Minnesota Medical School (Minneapolis, MI, USA). "This is a safe method of cell transplantation that could potentially become a same-day procedure.”

The scientists used a steroid-free protocol to suppress the immune system, so that the body would accept the transplanted cells. They developed a "sandwich technique” procedure to close the access site, layering applications of gel-foam and coil to seal it. The sandwich closure is considered a safe method that prevents many of the complications common to previous techniques used to transplant islet cells.

Thirty days after the procedure, all 13 patients involved were producing insulin without requiring supplemental injections, and none experienced major complications. Liver function tests and blood cell counts were monitored carefully during this time. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of America (RSNA) in November/December 2005 in Chicago (IL, USA).

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, usually because of the destruction of insulin-producing islet beta cells in the pancreas.




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University of Minnesota Medical School