Current status and perspectives in clinical islet transplantation

Beta-cell replacement, by either pancreas or islet transplantation, is the only treatment to achieve an insulin-independent, constantly normoglycemic state avoiding hypoglycemic episodes in patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus. This article reviews the current state of the worldwide experience based on data provided by the International Islet Transplant Registry; it also illustrates the perspectives of clinical islet transplantation.