Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in poor blood sugar control. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of islet transplantation, combined with immunosuppressive medications and medications to support islet survival for treating type 1 diabetes in individuals experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness and severe hypoglycemic episodes.
Type 1 diabetes is commonly treated with the administration of insulin, either by multiple insulin injections or by a continuous supply of insulin through a wearable pump. Insulin therapy allows long-term survival in individuals with type 1 diabetes; however, it does not guarantee constant normal blood sugar control. Because of this, long-term type 1 diabetic survivors often develop vascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can cause poor vision and blindness, and diabetic nephropathy, a kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure. Some individuals with type 1 diabetes develop hypoglycemia unawareness, a life-threatening condition that is not easily treatable with medication and is characterized by reduced or absent warning signals for hypoglycemia. For such individuals, pancreas or pancreatic islet transplantation are possible treatment options. Insulin independence among islet transplant recipients tends to decline over time. New strategies aimed at promoting engraftment of transplanted islets are needed to improve the clinical outcomes associated with this procedure.
Study Type
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200mL sterile suspension of allogeneic human pancreatic islets
Dosed to maintain whole blood 24-hr trough levels 10-15ng/mL for first 3 months and 8-12ng/mL thereafter daily. Sirolimus is used to prevent transplant rejection.
20mg intravenously (IV) 2hrs prior to islet infusion and on Day 4 post-transplant. Basiliximab is used to prevent transplant rejection
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Initial dose of 0.015mg/kg p.o. daily on Day 1 post transplant, and adjusted to maintain 12-hr trough levels 3-6ng/mL. Tacrolimus lowers the risk of organ rejection
Broad spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis administered preoperatively
80mg/400mg by mouth once a day starting on Day 1 for duration of the study follow-up. This medication is used to prevent bacterial infections.
1 troche by mouth 4 times daily starting two days prior to transplant until 3 months after the transplant. This medication is used to prevent fungal infections.
450mg dose by mouth once a day starting two days pre-transplant and increasing to 900 mg once a day by Day 12 and continuing for 14 weeks post-transplant. This medication is used to prevent cytomegalovirus infections.
70U/kg body weight of recipient given with islet infusion, followed by 3U/kg/hr for the next 4hrs. From 5th through 48th hr post-transplant heparin will be titrated to achieve and maintain a Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) of 50-60 seconds. This medication is used to prevent the formation of blood clots.
30mg subcutaneously twice a day from 48 hrs post-transplant through Day 7 post-transplant. This medication is used to prevent the formation of blood clots.
400mg slow release tablet by mouth three times a day beginning 2 days prior to transplant and continue for 7 days post transplant. This medication improves blood flow.
81mg enteric coated aspirin by mouth every night, starting 24hrs post-transplant. This medication prevents blood clots.