CLINICAL ISLET TRANSPLANTATION EXPERIENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY-OF-CALIFORNIA ISLET TRANSPLANT CONSORTIUM

Background. The University of California Islet Transplant Consortium w as formed to evaluate the feasibility of performing clinical islet tra nsplantation at different transplant centers by using a single central ized islet isolation laboratory. Methods. From July 1992 through Febru ary 1995 seven adult islet transplantations were performed, six allogr afts and one autograft. Once procured, human pancreata were brought to the UCLA-VA Islet Core Laboratory for islet isolation and purificatio n, which were then transported to different centers for transplantatio n. Patients 1 through 3 received their transplants in Los Angeles, pat ient 4 received her islet transplant in Torrance, and patients 5 throu gh 7 received their transplant in San Francisco. Results. Although non e of these patients achieved insulin independence, four of seven had f unctioning grafts longer than 6 months as indicated by circulating C-p eptide level greater than 0.7 ng/ml. Furthermore, improved glucose con trol as shown by a decreased insulin requirement was seen in 57% (four of seven patients) of these patients. The ability to isolate islets a t a single laboratory and transport them long distances to different c enters was shown in patients 4 through 7. Conclusions. Islet transplan tation can be performed with improvements in blood glucose control, an d islets can be isolated at a centralized location and successfully tr ansported to different centers for transplantation.