title: Auto-islet transplantation after pancreatectomy.
abstract: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory disease that causes progressive and irreversible structural changes to the pancreas, resulting in permanent impairment of both endocrine and exocrine functions. In advanced cases of CP, pain can be relieved only with pancreatic resection. However, even partial resection of the pancreas in this setting may cause diabetes. Furthermore, postsurgical diabetes (PSD) always occurs after total or near-total pancreatectomy, which is commonly performed for CP. Auto transplantation of pancreatic islets into the portal vein after pancreatic resection can prevent PSD. The results of this strategy, which are already encouraging, are likely to improve in the near future because of significant progress in the isolation and preservation of pancreatic islets. This review discusses the current status and future prospects for auto-islet transplantation after pancreatic resection for CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, 840 South Wood Street, Room 402, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panaro
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogetti
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sankary
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Helton
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*