Islet cell transplantation
The Islets of Langerhans are a cluster of cells present within the pancreas, and are responsible for the production and release of hormones that regulate glucose levels in the body. They contain alpha, beta and delta cells that produce glucagon, insulin and somatostatin respectively. The pancreatic islets constitute about 1 to 2% of the pancreas volume and receive 10–15% of its blood flow.
Islet transplantation is the process of separating the islet cells from a donor pancreas and then transplanting these cells into a person with type 1 diabetes.
The traditional islet transplant process itself is a relatively simple, non-surgical procedure performed in about an hour. A catheter (small tube) is inserted into the portal vein and the purified islets from an infusion bag flow through this vein and are dispersed throughout the liver. There, the transplanted cells develop a new blood supply and begin to produce insulin.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that islet transplantation is the only procedure, outside of a full pancreas transplant, that can restore natural insulin production in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and improve their quality of life.
Because it is still considered an experimental therapy, Islet cell transplantation for diabetes is not widely available. Currently there is no hospital or center in India that performs islet cell transplantation.
