Islet cell transplantation and other new technologies for treating type 1 diabetes: a paediatric view.
Recent advances in diabetes care have facilitated the achievement and maintenance of excellent metabolic control. New insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems provide cause for optimism that an artificial pancreas may soon be developed. In addition, transplantation biology has advanced to the point where pancreas and islet transplants are being performed with increasing frequency. Recent reports suggest that improved techniques for isolation of islets and immune suppression may allow these procedures to become more commonplace. However, serious questions regarding long-term safety and efficacy need to be answered in older individuals before consideration is given to their more routine use in children and adolescents with diabetes.
Daneman
Denis
D
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. denis.daneman@sickkids.on.ca
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000639:trends; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation
D001786:Blood Glucose