Reduced progression of diabetic retinopathy after islet cell transplantation compared with intensive medical therapy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of type 1 diabetes and remains a leading cause of visual loss. There have been no comparisons of the effectiveness of intensive medical therapy and islet cell transplantation on preventing progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: The British Columbia islet transplant program is conducting a prospective, crossover study comparing medical therapy and islet cell transplantation on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

The effect of medical therapy and islet cell transplantation on diabetic nephropathy: an interim report.

Background: The effect of islet cell transplantation (ICT) on renal function in type 1 diabetes is uncertain and some recent studies report a significant decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and worsening of albuminuria.

Methods: We are conducting a prospective crossover study comparing medical treatment with islet transplantation on the progression of diabetic complications, including renal function. The primary endpoint is change in GFR measured by Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate with secondary endpoints including estimated GFR and albumin excretion.