Clinical Benefit of Islet Xenotransplantation for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Allogeneic islet transplantation has become a viable option for the treatment of unstable type 1 diabetes. However, the donor shortage and the necessity of the immunosuppressive drugs are two major issues. To solve these issues, we performed islet xenotransplantation using encapsulated neonatal porcine islets without immunosuppressive drugs.


METHODS
Two different doses (approximately 5000IEQ/kg and 10,000IEQ/kg) of encapsulated neonatal porcine islets were transplanted twice (total approximately 10,000IEQ/kg and 20,000IEQ/kg) into four type 1 diabetic patients in each group (total 8 patients).


RESULTS
In the higher dose group, all four patients improved HbA1c. This was maintained at a level of <7% for >600days with significant reduction of the frequency of unaware hypoglycemic events.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical benefit of islet xenotransplantation with microencapsulation has been shown.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory Inc., Naruto, Japan. Electronic address: matsumoto.shinichi@otsuka.jp.
Shinichi
S
Matsumoto
Hospital Eva Peron de San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Adrian
A
Abalovich
Hospital Eva Peron de San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Carlos
C
Wechsler
Diatranz Otsuka Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
Shaun
S
Wynyard
Diatranz Otsuka Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand; Elliott Enterprises, Auckland, New Zealand.
Robert B
RB
Elliott
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers
Encapsulation; Islet transplantation; PERV; Porcine islet; Type 1 diabetes; Xenotransplantation