Pediatric islet autotransplantation: indication, technique, and outcome
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
A Method for Murine Islet Isolation and Subcapsular Kidney Transplantation
Published on: April 13, 2011
Melena D Bellin1, David E R Sutherland
1Department of Pediatrics, Schulze Diabetes Institute, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. bell0130@umn.edu
Insights
Total pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis in children can be managed with islet autotransplant to prevent diabetes. This procedure successfully restores insulin independence in two-thirds of pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Chronic pancreatitis is a rare but severe condition in children.
- Total pancreatectomy may be necessary for pain relief and improved quality of life.
- Pancreatectomy often leads to diabetes mellitus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of islet autotransplantation following total pancreatectomy in children.
- To identify factors influencing the success of islet autotransplantation in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Islet autotransplantation involves mechanical and enzymatic disruption of the resected pancreas to isolate islets.
- Isolated islets are infused into the portal vein for hepatic engraftment.
- No immunosuppression is required as autologous tissue is used.
Main Results:
- Islet autotransplantation is successful in approximately two-thirds of pediatric patients.
- Successful outcomes include insulin independence or minimal insulin requirements for euglycemia.
- Factors predicting success include younger age at transplant (<13 years), higher islet yield, and no prior pancreatic surgery.
Conclusions:
- Islet autotransplantation is a viable option to prevent or minimize diabetes after total pancreatectomy in children.
- Patient age, islet quantity, and surgical history are critical for successful outcomes.
Abstract:
Chronic pancreatitis is a rare disease in childhood. However, when severe, a total pancreatectomy may be the only option to relieve pain and restore quality of life. An islet autotransplant performed at the time of pancreatectomy can prevent or minimize the postsurgical diabetes that would otherwise result from pancreatectomy alone. In this procedure, the resected pancreas is mechanically disrupted and enzymatically digested to separate the islets from the surrounding exocrine tissue, and the isolated islets are infused into the portal vein and engraft in the liver. Because patients are receiving their own tissue, no immunosuppression is required. Islet autotransplant is successful in two thirds of children-these patients are insulin independent or require little insulin to maintain euglycemia. Factors associated with a more successful outcome include a younger age at transplant (<13 years), more islets transplanted, and lack of prior surgical procedures on the pancreas (partial pancreatectomy or surgical drainage procedures).
