August 12, 2003
Transplants
Question from Warsaw, Indiana, USA:
I would like to know if we as parents can be donors for the islet cells. Since it takes so many cells, are they frozen and saved until there are enough? If we are donors, do our bodies reproduce what has been removed? In our case ( adopted child), do any islet cells work or do they have to be compatible as in blood or bone marrow transplants?
Answer:
Islet cell transplantation has made great progress in the last few years; but it still requires two or three cadaver pancreases for a successful graft. In addition, lifetime immunosuppression is necessary. There is much active research not only into improving the efficiency of islet cell extraction and into the development of other surrogate cells but into the ensuring of graft tolerance with much shorter and simpler regimens.
DOB
