Journal article

Multicenter Australian trial of islet transplantation: Improving accessibility and outcomes

PJ O'Connell, DJ Holmes-Walker, D Goodman, WJ Hawthorne, T Loudovaris, JE Gunton, HE Thomas, ST Grey, CJ Drogemuller, GM Ward, DJ Torpy, PT Coates, TW Kay

American Journal of Transplantation | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2013

Abstract

Whilst initial rates of insulin independence following islet transplantation are encouraging, long-term function using the Edmonton Protocol remains a concern. The aim of this single-arm, multicenter study was to evaluate an immunosuppressive protocol of initial antithymocyte globulin (ATG), tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) followed by switching to sirolimus and MMF. Islets were cultured for 24 h prior to transplantation. The primary end-point was an HbA1c of 0.2 nmol/L had cessation of severe hypoglycemia. Nine of the 17 recipients tolerated switching from tacrolimus to sirolimus with similar graft outcomes. There was a small but significant reduction in renal function in the firs..

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Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the Department of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth of Australia and administered by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The assistance of the following people in establishing this program is acknowledged: R Ayala-Perez, H Burns, L Elkerbout, E Estella, D Gregory, J Hawkes, K Hor, J-Q Huang, A Irvin, R Jones, C Kos, J Kuehlich, C Liddle, R MacIssac, K-W Ng, N Sanders, A Webster, G Wong.