The impact of islet mass, number of transplants, and time between transplants on graft function in a national islet transplant program.
Forbes S., Flatt AJ., Bennett D., Crookston R., Pimkova M., Birtles L., Pernet A., Wood RC., Burling K., Barker P., Counter C., Lumb A., Choudhary P., Rutter MK., Rosenthal M., Sutherland A., Casey J., Johnson P., Shaw JAM.
The UK islet allotransplant program is nationally funded to deliver one or two transplants over 12 months to individuals with type 1 diabetes and recurrent severe hypoglycemia. Analyses were undertaken 10 years after program inception to evaluate associations between transplanted mass; single versus two transplants; time between two transplants and graft survival (stimulated C-peptide >50 pmol/L) and function. In total, 84 islet transplant recipients were studied. Uninterrupted graft survival over 12 months was attained in 23 (68%) single and 47 (94%) (p = .002) two transplant recipients (separated by [median (IQR)] 6 (3-8) months). 64% recipients of one or two transplants with uninterrupted function at 12 months sustained graft function at 6 years. Total transplanted mass was associated with Mixed Meal Tolerance Test stimulated C-peptide at 12 months (p