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Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging and Quantification of Human Pancreatic Islet Grafting and Contributing Host Cells in the Anterior Eye Chamber
Published on: June 11, 2020
Ultrasound-Guided Human Islet Transplantation: Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy Analysis
Daopeng Yang1, Bowen Zhuang2, Jinliang Duan1
1Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), No. 58 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Rationale And Objectives:
We aimed to analyze the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of human islet transplantation (IT) using ultrasound (US) throughout the entire procedure.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 22 recipients (18 males; mean age 42.6 ± 17.5years) with 35 procedures were retrospective included. Under US guidance, percutaneous transhepatic portal catheterization was successfully performed through a right-sided transhepatic approach, and islets were infused into the main portal vein. Color Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were used to guide the procedure and monitor the complications. After infusion of the islet mass, the access track was embolized by embolic material. If hemorrhage persisted, US-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed to stop bleeding. Factors that could affect the complication were analyzed. After transplantation, primary graft function was evaluated with a β-score 1month after the last islet infusion.
Results:
The technical success rates were 100% with a single puncture attempt. Six (17.1%) abdominal bleeding episodes were immediately stopped by US-guided RFA. No portal vein thrombosis were encountered. Dialysis (OR (Odd Ratio): 32.0; 95% CI: 1.561-656.054; and P = .025) was identified as a significant factor associated with bleeding. Primary graft function was optimal in eight patients (36.4%), suboptimal in 13 patients (59.1%), and poor in one patient (4.5%).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, whole-procedure US-guided IT is a safe, feasible, and effective method for diabetes. Complications are either self-limiting or manageable with noninvasive treatment.
