Islet cell transplantation improves nerve conduction velocity in type 1 diabetes compared with intensive medical therapy over six years

Abstract

Background: Neuropathy is a common diabetic complication that can result in significant disability. Few treatment options exist to reverse this process.

Methods: We conducted a one-way crossover cohort study comparing intensive medical treatment and islet cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes on the change in nerve conduction velocity over six years.

Findings: For subjects with some neuropathy at baseline (Z score below -1), nerve conduction velocity significantly improved post-transplant (slope (0.073±0.042) while it worsened in medically treated patients (-0.136±0.081) (p<.05).

Interpretation: Islet cell transplantation improves nerve conduction velocity and could be further investigated as a treatment for neuropathy in type 1 diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetic neuropathy; Islet transplantation.