Islets isolated from donors with elevated HbA1c can be successfully transplanted

Transplantation. 2008 Dec 15;86(11):1622-4. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e31818c2559.

Abstract

Clinical islet transplantation is limited by the availability of donor organs. We report two cases where islets were isolated from donors with elevated HbA1c (6.3% and 7.9%). Islet isolation yield was adequate in both cases (521,350 and 497,472 islet equivalents, respectively). Islet graft analyses revealed a decreased proportion of beta cells (21.6%) and an increase in alpha cells (51.0%) in the donor with the higher HbA1c, although graft characteristics of the other donor were similar to donors with normal HbA1c. Both islet preparations were transplanted into type 1 diabetes recipients with brittle diabetes. One recipient has remained insulin independent for 4 years to date with good glycemic control. The other recipient who received islets from the donor with the higher HbA1c had a 56% reduction in insulin requirement after transplant. Pancreases from donors with mild hyperglycemia may be a source of islets that could be considered for clinical islet transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / diagnosis
  • Hypoglycemia / pathology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / methods*
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Glucose