Shalyndria
10-02-2004, 11:07 PM
The following is a short synopsis of a report recently published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) on the results of Islet Transplant:
In islet transplantation as performed by these centers, insulin-producing cells derived from donor pancreata were infused into patients with difficult-to-control type 1 diabetes though the portal vein of the liver. When successful, the transplanted islets took up residence in the liver’s small blood vessels and began producing insulin.
The 86 recipients, who had type 1 diabetes for an average of 30 years, received a total of 158 infusions of islets extracted from 173 donor pancreata. Twenty-eight patients received one islet infusion, 44 received two, and 14 received three. At 6 months after the last infusion, 61 percent of recipients no longer had to inject insulin. At 1 year after the last transfusion, 58 percent were still insulin independent. Some insulin-independent patients, although not receiving insulin, did have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels. Researchers will continue to monitor patients to see how long they remain insulin independent.
You can read the whole report
here (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/welcome/releases/09-07-04.htm)
On a related note, I had a look at the U of A website (the Uni of Alberta here in Edmonton) and they list this as the following criteria for acceptance:
Current Indications for islet Cell Transplantation:
1. Type 1 Diabetes (Age over 18-65)
2. Unawareness of low blood glucose
3. Brittle Diabetes (You are using a good regimen and are still experiencing wide swings of blood sugar that disrupt your life)
4. Progressive complications of diabetes such as vision, kidney, nerve or blood vessels problems
5. Have had diabetes for at least five years
6. Resident of Canada
If anyone's interested in having a look or filling out an application, check the website out: Edmonton Protocol (http://www.med.ualberta.ca/islet/cand.html)
They also have a list outlining what makes one ineligible for the program :p
Shy
In islet transplantation as performed by these centers, insulin-producing cells derived from donor pancreata were infused into patients with difficult-to-control type 1 diabetes though the portal vein of the liver. When successful, the transplanted islets took up residence in the liver’s small blood vessels and began producing insulin.
The 86 recipients, who had type 1 diabetes for an average of 30 years, received a total of 158 infusions of islets extracted from 173 donor pancreata. Twenty-eight patients received one islet infusion, 44 received two, and 14 received three. At 6 months after the last infusion, 61 percent of recipients no longer had to inject insulin. At 1 year after the last transfusion, 58 percent were still insulin independent. Some insulin-independent patients, although not receiving insulin, did have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels. Researchers will continue to monitor patients to see how long they remain insulin independent.
You can read the whole report
here (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/welcome/releases/09-07-04.htm)
On a related note, I had a look at the U of A website (the Uni of Alberta here in Edmonton) and they list this as the following criteria for acceptance:
Current Indications for islet Cell Transplantation:
1. Type 1 Diabetes (Age over 18-65)
2. Unawareness of low blood glucose
3. Brittle Diabetes (You are using a good regimen and are still experiencing wide swings of blood sugar that disrupt your life)
4. Progressive complications of diabetes such as vision, kidney, nerve or blood vessels problems
5. Have had diabetes for at least five years
6. Resident of Canada
If anyone's interested in having a look or filling out an application, check the website out: Edmonton Protocol (http://www.med.ualberta.ca/islet/cand.html)
They also have a list outlining what makes one ineligible for the program :p
Shy