Islet cell transplantation improves nerve conduction velocity in type 1 diabetes compared with intensive medical therapy over six years.
BACKGROUND
Neuropathy is a common diabetic complication that can result in significant disability. Few treatment options exist to reverse this process.


METHODS
We conducted a one-way crossover cohort study comparing intensive medical treatment and islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes on the change in nerve conduction velocity over six years.


RESULTS
For subjects with some neuropathy at baseline (Z score below -1), nerve conduction velocity significantly improved post-transplant (slope (0.073±0.042) while it worsened in medically treated patients (-0.136±0.081) (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Islet cell transplantation improves nerve conduction velocity and could be further investigated as a treatment for neuropathy in type 1 diabetes.
Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Canada.
Blake
B
Fensom
Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Canada.
Claire
C
Harris
Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Canada.
Sharon E
SE
Thompson
Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Canada.
Mohammed
M
Al Mehthel
Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: david.thompson@vch.ca.
David M
DM
Thompson
D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
Diabetic neuropathy; Islet transplantation