TREATMENT OF SEVERE DIABETES-MELLITUS FOR MORE THAN ONE-YEAR USING A VASCULARIZED HYBRID ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS

We report the successful application of a hybrid artificial pancreas d evice for the treatment of severe diabetes mellitus induced by total p ancreatectomy in two dogs. Control of the blood sugar was achieved for more than 1 year in these two animals without any immunosuppressive t herapy. Although exogenous insulin was required during the latter part of the study period, removal of the devices resulted in a rapid incre ase in the fasting blood sugar levels and the exogenous insulin requir ements (P<0.001 versus weeks 1-52 in both dogs). Metabolic studies, po stexplant in vitro studies, and histologic analyses confirmed islet ce ll survival and insulin production by the devices. This hybrid artific ial pancreas has a clear clinical potential for islet cell transplanta tion without immunosuppression.