Islet Cell Transplantation for Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis

Excerpt

The pancreas is a dual organ. The bulk (98 %) consists of the exocrine acinar tissue and the islets of Langerhans, responsible for the endocrine component constituting only about 2 % of the organ. Nevertheless, loss of this endocrine component results in severe type 3c diabetes. The blood sugar control in these patients is very labile, perhaps because of the absence of both insulin and glucagon from loss of both beta and alpha cells of the islet of Langerhans. Chronic pancreatitis typically affects the exocrine component of the gland, and the islet structure and function is preserved unless the disease is in late advanced stages. Therefore, if total or partial pancreatectomy is indicated for pain control in chronic pancreatitis, islets can be separated from the resected pancreas, and then transplanted back into the patient, to prevent development of diabetes [1]. …