Review Article on Interventional Radiology in Glands


Allo- and auto-percutaneous intra-portal pancreatic islet transplantation (PIPIT) for diabetes cure and prevention: the role of imaging and interventional radiology

Massimo Venturini, Claudio Sallemi, Paolo Marra, Anna Palmisano, Giulia Agostini, Carolina Lanza, Gianpaolo Balzano, Massimo Falconi, Antonio Secchi, Paolo Fiorina, Lorenzo Piemonti, Paola Maffi, Antonio Esposito, Francesco De Cobelli, Alessandro Del Maschio

Abstract

Although the life expectancy of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has improved since the introduction of insulin therapy, the acute life-threatening and long-term complications from diabetes mellitus are signi cant causes of both mortality and morbidity. Percutaneous intra-portal pancreatic islet transplantation (PIPIT) is a minimally invasive, repeatable procedure which allows a β-cell replacement therapy through a liver islet engraftment, leading to insulin release and glycaemic control restoration in patients with diabetes. Allo-PIPIT, in which isolated and puri ed islets from cadaveric donor are used, does not require major surgery, and is potentially less expensive for the recipient. In case of long-term T1DM, islet-after-kidney (IAK) transplantation can simultaneously cure diabetes and chronic renal failure, while islet-transplant-alone (ITA) is performed in brittle, short-term T1DM, based on the infusion of an adequate islet mass and on a steroid-free immunosuppressive regimen according to the Edmonton protocol. Results of the Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry (CITR) demonstrate that allo-PIPIT reduces episodes of hypoglycemia and diabetic complications, and improves quality of life of diabetic patients. Auto-PIPIT, in which the own patient’s islets are used, has been investigated as a preventive treatment for pancreatogenic diabetes in patients who undergo extensive pancreatectomy for malignant and non-malignant disease. This Review outlines the role of imaging and interventional radiology in allo- and auto-PIPIT.

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