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Pancreas Transplantation for Diabetes Mellitus
- JOSIAH BROWN, M.D.;
- WILLIAM R. CLARK, Ph.D.;
- RHODA K. MAKOFF, Ph.D.;
- HARRY WEISMAN, M.D.;
- JOHN A. KEMP, B.A.; and
- YOKO MULLEN, M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract
Despite the best efforts of physicians and diabetic patients in the use of insulin for control of juvenile-onset (insulin-deficient) diabetes, vascular complications occur in most patients. The many advantages of the whole fetal pancreas as a donor organ make transplantation of the pancreas a promising improvement in therapy. A rat model has been developed for future application to human beings. After transplantation of one fetal rat pancreas into a diabetic recipient, maturation and growth of the transplant is adequate for complete reversal of the diabetic state of the recipient. Because of the atrophy of exocrine elements after transplantation of the fetal organ, many of the technical problems inherent in adult pancreas transplants are avoided. The small size of the fetal pancreas permits cryopreservation and permanent storage without apparent loss of function. Cryopreservation provides time for typing, matching, and preparation of the recipient to receive the donor organ and thus may alleviate rejection problems.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited transcription of an Interdepartmental Clinical Case Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, California.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of this conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:
CLARK WR: Developmental biology of the pancreas, pp. 952-953 in BROWN J (moderator): Pancreas transplantation for diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med 89:951-965, 1978
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Grant support: Grants from the U.S. Public Health Service (AM17980, AM20827); NIH Research Career Development Award (A1-00009); and from The American Diabetes Association, Southern California Affiliate.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Josiah Brown, M.D.; Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90024.
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- Received September 5, 1978.
- Accepted September 13, 1978.
- ©1978 American College of Physicians
