Islet Transplantation
2008
2008
Since 1921 and until recently, insulin by injection has been the major treatment for patients suffered from
diabetes mellitus type 1. After pancreas transplantation, which became possible in 1977, the next logical step to
cure patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 is the transplantation of the islets of Langerhans.
As the cell transplant techniques are markedly improved, UK doctors successfully transplanted islet cells to a
patient making him the first person to be cured of the illness [March 9, 2005]. The patient is a 61-year old man and
the three procedures were done at King's College hospital, London.
The doctors injected thousands of harvested cells originating from the pancreases of dead organ donors into a liver
vein of the patient. The cells subsequently developed its own blood supply and began producing insulin. According
to IMS data, there are about 17 million sufferers and the global market for oral diabetes treatments exceeded $4.5
billion in 2004. This new technique signals the end of the diabetic therapy dependence for all type 1 diabetes
sufferers and definitely it will impact hardly on the insulin market.
Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. The patients live with the
constant need to be aware of their blood glucose levels and the threat of long term complications such as
blindness, renal failure, amputation, cardiovascular disease and liver cancer.
BREAKING NEWS - APRIL 2005
Shinichi Matsumoto at Kyoto University Hospital, Japan, successfully transplanted insulinmaking cells, i.e. islets,
from a living donor's pancreas into a woman suffered from insulin-dependent diabetes for years. This is the first
successful transplantation using the islets from a living donor. Now, both women have a healthy tolerance to
glucose.
Pancreatic Cell Transplant from Living Donor Could Treat Diabetes, Newswire, April 18, 2006.
References
Terpstra OT et al, Afd. Heelkunde, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, [Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Jan
1;149(1):12-6]
Online news release, drugresearch.com, March 9, 2005
ARTICLE INDEX | ZHION
diabetes mellitus type 1. After pancreas transplantation, which became possible in 1977, the next logical step to
cure patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 is the transplantation of the islets of Langerhans.
As the cell transplant techniques are markedly improved, UK doctors successfully transplanted islet cells to a
patient making him the first person to be cured of the illness [March 9, 2005]. The patient is a 61-year old man and
the three procedures were done at King's College hospital, London.
The doctors injected thousands of harvested cells originating from the pancreases of dead organ donors into a liver
vein of the patient. The cells subsequently developed its own blood supply and began producing insulin. According
to IMS data, there are about 17 million sufferers and the global market for oral diabetes treatments exceeded $4.5
billion in 2004. This new technique signals the end of the diabetic therapy dependence for all type 1 diabetes
sufferers and definitely it will impact hardly on the insulin market.
Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. The patients live with the
constant need to be aware of their blood glucose levels and the threat of long term complications such as
blindness, renal failure, amputation, cardiovascular disease and liver cancer.
BREAKING NEWS - APRIL 2005
Shinichi Matsumoto at Kyoto University Hospital, Japan, successfully transplanted insulinmaking cells, i.e. islets,
from a living donor's pancreas into a woman suffered from insulin-dependent diabetes for years. This is the first
successful transplantation using the islets from a living donor. Now, both women have a healthy tolerance to
glucose.
Pancreatic Cell Transplant from Living Donor Could Treat Diabetes, Newswire, April 18, 2006.
References
Terpstra OT et al, Afd. Heelkunde, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, [Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Jan
1;149(1):12-6]
Online news release, drugresearch.com, March 9, 2005
ARTICLE INDEX | ZHION
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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