Islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes: An overview.
Islet transplantation is a method of restoring endogenous insulin secretion in individuals with type 1 diabetes by transplanting insulin-secreting islet cells from cadaveric donor pancreases into eligible recipients. Since 2000, the one-year insulin independence rate observed in islet transplant recipients has risen from less than 10% to approximately 80%. However, the continued requirement for at least two donor pancreases for each islet transplant recipient, the occurrence of suboptimal islet engraftment, the need for chronic immunosuppressive therapy and a decline in islet function over time continue to make this procedure unsuitable for the majority of patients with type 1 diabetes. Despite these challenges, the recent progress in islet transplantation has reinforced the potential of beta cell replacement for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
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Breay W
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Department of Medicine, Clinical Islet Transplant Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.