Vv. Malaitsev et al., TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN FETAL TISSUE AS A PROMISING METHOD IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES-MELLITUS, Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine, 117(4), 1994, pp. 351-356
Experience accumulated in Russia during the last century in the treatm
ent of diabetes mellitus by transplantation of human fetal tissues is
analyzed from the historical and geographical viewpoint. Over the last
15 years about 3000 patients have been treated using this method. Suc
h treatment has mainly resulted in stabilization of the labile forms o
f insulin-dependent diabetes: in 80% of recipients the exogenous insul
in requirements have been reduced by 20-85%, and in some cases a short
-term insulin independence has been established. Discontinuation and p
artial regression of secondary diabetic complications have been observ
ed: pain and paresthesia in the extremities have diminished or disappe
ared; in the case of angiopathy of the lower extremities the incidence
of indications for amputation due to gangrene has been reduced; the p
athological process in the fundus of the eye has been arrested and vis
ual acuity has increased in 45-65% of patients with diabetic retinopat
hy. At the prenephrotic stage of diabetic nephropathy transplantation
has been attended by reduction or disappearance of proteinuria and nor
malization of arterial pressure in 40-50% of patients.