Experience with a novel efalizumab-based immunosuppressive regimen to facilitate single donor islet cell transplantation.

ABSTRACT: Islet transplantation is an experimental therapy for selected patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). It remains limited by immunosuppressive drug toxicity, progressive loss of insulin independence, allosensitization and the need for multiple islet donors. We describe our experience with an efalizumab-based immunosuppressive regimen as compared to the prevailing standard regimen, the Edmonton protocol. Twelve patients with T1DM received islet transplants: eight were treated with the Edmonton protocol; four were treated with daclizumab induction, a 6-month course of tacrolimus, and maintenance with efalizumab and mycophenolate mofetil. The primary endpoint was insulin independence after one islet infusion. Only two Edmonton protocol treated patients achieved the primary endpoint; six required

SUBMITTER: Turgeon NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3335736 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature