Rp. Robertson et al., METABOLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF LONG-TERM SUCCESSFUL PANCREAS TRANSPLANTS IN TYPE-I DIABETES, Journal of investigative medicine, 44(9), 1996, pp. 549-555
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Research & Experimental","Medicine, General & Internal
Background: The encouraging results of the Diabetes Control and Compli
cations Trial emphasize the need for improved methods of glycemic cont
rol to prevent the potentially devastating complications of Type I dia
betes mellitus, However, current conventional approaches have failed t
o consistently achieve normal HbAlc levels and increase the risk of hy
poglycemia. Pancreas transplantation is a consistently reliable method
of achieving postoperative normal glucose levels, but no extensive as
sessment has been made of the long-term stability of its metabolic ben
efits. Methods: To ascertain long-term stability of metabolic function
of pancreas transplants in Type I diabetic patients, we studied fasti
ng glucose levels, glucose disposal after intravenous glucose challeng
e, HbAlc levels, and pancreatic islet beta and alpha cell responsivene
ss in a series of 96 successfully transplanted recipients, Patients we
re studied cross-sectionally and, when possible, longitudinally for up
to five years post-transplantation. Special emphasis was given to the
longitudinal analysis to determine whether initial metabolic benefits
maintain stability or undergo deterioration during the first five pos
toperative years.