To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Modified Islet Cell Transplantation Leads to Insulin Independence in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/223702.htm
Doctor's Guide
June 11, 2008

NEW YORK -- June 11, 2008 -- Researchers have modified the procedure for islet cell transplantation and achieved insulin independence with fewer, but better functioning pancreatic islet cells in patients with diabetes. The study results are published in the June issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

The new procedure allowed patients to achieve insulin independence after a single transplant versus the 2 to 4 transplants that were needed using the older protocol, said lead author José Oberholzer, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago, Illinois.

In the study, patients with type 1 diabetes (N = 10) received between 1 and 3 islet cell transplants and were followed for 15 months. Patients in group 1 (n = 4) received the Edmonton protocol, which uses a combination of 2 immunosuppressants and a monoclonal antibody drug, daclizumab. Patients in group 2 (n = 6) received the UIC protocol -- a combination of etanercept and exenatide -- and the Edmonton regimen.

All patients in the study achieved insulin independence, but patients in group 2 required fewer than half the number of islets as those in group 1. Patients in group 1 needed either 2 or 3 sequential islet cell transplants to achieve insulin independence, whereas patients in group 2 initially achieved insulin independence after only 1 islet transplant. Two of the patients in group 2 required a second islet cell transplant, and 1 resumed insulin 5 months after the second transplant due to other complications.

According to Dr. Oberholzer, progress in islet cell transplantation has been limited by the shortage of donor organs.

"This study is extremely promising and shows that we can achieve success with fewer islet cells, freeing patients from the need to check their insulin, even after 20 or 30 years of suffering from diabetes," he added.


SOURCE: University of Illinois at Chicago

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet*
located at http://www.docguide.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Return to News Story Page

This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com
Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs.
All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc.
All rights reserved.