Islet transplantation is a relatively new procedure used in people with difficult to control
Type 1 diabetes. Insulin producing cells (islets) are isolated from a pancreas of a deceased
organ donor. After the cells are carefully prepared, the islets are transplanted into
patient's body. These transplanted islets may produce insulin for the patient. Patient may be
able to reduce or eliminate the need for insulin injections for an unknown period of time.
Patients who receive an islet transplant may need to stay on powerful immunosuppressive drugs
for as long as the islets remain alive and working. These drugs help to prevent the immune
system from attacking the transplanted islets.
Under current standard of care procedure, islets are transplanted into patient's liver. The
investigators have learned that some of these cells do not survive the current procedure and
are lost around the time of transplant. Therefore in this study, the investigators are
studying a new transplant procedure that may help prevent this islet cell loss. The new
procedure involves transplanting the islets into an omental pouch instead of into the liver.
The omentum is a large apron-like fold of membrane inside the abdomen that drapes over the
intestines. This study will test to see if omental islet transplantation is safe and
effective. Standard immunosuppressive medicines (anti-thymocyte globulin, tacrolimus,
mycophenolic acid, sirolimus, etanercept) will be used in this study to prevent rejection of
the islets.
This study is a collaborative research with the University of Miami, and the same study
protocol has been in use over there. Recruitment in Edmonton will continue until all subjects
[N=6] needed for the study are transplanted. All subjects in this study will receive islet
transplants using the study procedure.