Influence of islet transportation on pancreatic islet allotransplantation in type 1 diabetic patients within the Swiss-French GRAGIL network.
BACKGROUND
The influence of islet transportation on pancreatic islet allotransplantation in type 1 diabetic patients was evaluated within the GRAGIL network.


METHODS
From December 2001 to April 2003, 16 human pancreatic islet transplants were performed in 9 type 1 diabetic patients with an established kidney graft (functioning for at least 6 months) in four centers of the GRAGIL network. Islet isolation was performed in a core laboratory in Geneva, and the islet preparations were shipped by ambulance to each center for transplantation. One month after transplantation, the efficiency of the graft was assessed according to islet transportation time (ITT): ITT less than 2 hours (group 1, n=5), and ITT greater than 4.5 hours (group 2, n=4, mediant 5 hours).


RESULTS
Primary graft dysfunction was observed in one patient in group 1 after one month. Two patients became insulin independent in groups 1 and 2. All other patients in both groups had a plasma C-peptide level greater than 0.5 ng/ml. The HbA1c level and the exogenous insulin needs decreased in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
ITT does not seem to influence the efficiency of pancreatic islet allotransplantation in type 1 diabetic patients. These results emphasize the scope for multicenter networks such as the GRAGIL group.
Kessler
Laurence
L
Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Strasbourg, France. laurence.kessler@medecine.u-strasbg.fr
Bucher
Pascal
P
Milliat-Guittard
Laure
L
Benhamou
Pierre Yves
PY
Berney
Thierry
T
Penfornis
Alfred
A
Badet
Lionel
L
Thivolet
Charles
C
Bayle
Francois
F
Oberholzer
Jose
J
Renoult
Edith
E
Brun
Marcel Jean
MJ
Rifle
Gerard
G
Atlan
Catherine
C
Colin
Cyrille
C
Morel
Philippe
P
D000328:Adult; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D014186:Transportation
D002096:C-Peptide; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin