Premium
Langerhans Islet Implants in Diabetic Patients. Preliminary Results
Author(s) -
AlcázarMontenegro H,
AlvaradoVásquez N,
Alc·zarLeyva S
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the peripheral nervous system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1529-8027
pISSN - 1085-9489
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8027.2000abstracts-56.x
Subject(s) - medicine , islet , diabetes mellitus , thiamine pyrophosphate , pentose phosphate pathway , endocrinology , insulin , thiamine , glycolysis , gastroenterology , surgery , metabolism , biochemistry , biology , cofactor , enzyme
Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and the pentose cycle are blocked in diabetes mellitus (DM). This results in alterations in the production of ATP and an increase in free radicals which damage protein lipids and DNAmt. In 1981, Cerami et al. stated that an excess of glucose is the cause of the classical complications in diabetics. The transplanting of pancreatic beta cells was proposed as a method of control for diabetes mellitus. This procedure in animals and humans has given rise to encouraging results, but only in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for renal transplants. On an experimental basis, we have implanted pancreatic beta islets and have obtained a reduction in glucose levels. In the present paper we evaluate the clinical and laboratory response of diabetic patients who, prior treatment with a modified form of RNAt (RNAt HAM) to induce the synthesis of IFN, received parenteral implants of Langerhans islets extracted from sheep. Immediately after, patients were given parenteral injections of thiamine pyrophosphate (X‐2). Three days after the implant blood glucose levels had reduced. Clinical improvement was recorded through the disappearance of asthenia, adynamia and depression. The administration of hypoglycemic agents or insulin was reduced or suspended according to laboratory results. We conclude that the implanting of pancreatic islets is a good option for the treatment of DM, on condition that RNAt HAM is used to avoid rejection from immunological tolerance.