Innovations in islet cell transplants, a procedure that involves transplanting a culture of the insulin-producing islet cells of a healthy pancreas to a patient with type I diabetes.
Pancreatic islet cell transplantation involves taking the cells that produce insulin from a second source such as a donor pancreas and transplanting them into a patient.
Pancreatic islet cell transplantation involves taking the cells that produce insulin from a second source such as a donor pancreas and transplanting them into a patient.
Innovations in islet cell transplants, a procedure that involves transplanting a culture of the insulin-producing islet cells of a healthy pancreas to a patient with type I diabetes, have increased the frequency of this procedure.
Once transplanted, the new islet cells make and release insulin. Islet cell transplantation is primarily a treatment method for type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, but it can also be used to treat patients who have had their pancreas removed or.
Someone can donate islet cells through his donor pancreas. The islets are infused into the liver of the patient. Islet cell transplantation is an experimental treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus.
After the patient is given light sedation, the surgeon begins by using an ultrasound to guide the placement of a small plastic tube, known as a catheter, through the upper abdomen into the liver. The liver is used as.
Prior to the transplantation, the patient must undergo a drug regime that suppresses the immune system so that the new cells will be accepted. Even though only cells are being transplanted, the amount of immunosuppression is.
A third important risk is the long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs by the patient. There is relatively little experience with the long-term use of these drugs, so it is difficult to predict what the exact physical effects.
Islet cell transplantation is done for Type I Diabetics to replace the pancreatic cells, called the Islets of Langerhans, that have been destroyed by the body's own immune system in an autoimmune disorder. It may not be a covered procedure by health insurance since some insurance companies still consider it an experimental procedure. Recovery time from the procedure itself is minimal. However, current technology requires that patients continuously remain on immunosuppressive drugs (also known as anti-rejection drugs) for life to avoid rejection of the transplanted islet cells. These drugs, used to prevent further autoimmune disease and destruction of the foreign cells that came from a donor, have significant side effects. Some of those are: increased risk and incidence of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Mouth sores, GI/stomach upset and diarrhea are common. The drugs reduce the white blood cells in the blood so that the body no longer can adequately fight infections (these are suppressed to prevent attacks on the transplanted tissue). Other side effects are decreased kidney function, increased cholesterol, hypertension, anemia, and fatigue.
A great book to read when learning about cell transplantation is 'Bone Marrow and Blood Stem Cell Transplants: A Guide for Patients'. You can also read literature relating to cell transplantation on the WebMD website.
Surgery is the only curative method for islet cell cancers, and studies have shown that an aggressive surgical approach can improve survival and alleviate symptoms of the disease.