title: [Immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1)].
abstract: Treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) has greatly improved but remains limited to combating the consequences of the disease. Target values for glucose regulation are achieved in only 20% of patients. Immunosuppression can slow disease progression, but does not cure DM1. Immunotherapy attempts to protect remaining insulin-producing β cells and β cell function. Promising results of immunotherapy in phase 2 studies in patients with DM1 could not be reproduced in phase 3 studies. These studies showed heterogeneity played a role in patient populations and between ethnic groups. In future studies better endpoints of efficacy, biomarkers of disease progression and response to therapy are essential. Vaccination with β-cell specific antigens to stimulate tolerance and vaccination combined with immunotherapy (biologicals) are options for future therapy. Discussion on the acceptability of the side effects of immunotherapy is desirable.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Immunohaematologie & Bloedtransfusie, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: van der Torren
authors.forename: Bart O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Roep
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin