Predictors of Diabetes Outcomes at 1 Year After Islet Autotransplantation: Data From a Multicenter Cohort Study

Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) may relieve pain for patients with intractable recurrent acute or chronic pancreatitis. In this first multicenter cohort study of TPIAT, we aimed to identify predictors of favorable diabetes outcomes following TPIAT to aid in surgical counseling and decision making.

We included 384 patients (mean [SD] age 29.6 [17.1] years; 61.7% female) who underwent TPIAT and were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-sponsored multicenter Prospective Observational Study of TPIAT (POST). Outcomes were reported for insulin use, HbA1c, and islet graft function. Univariable and multivariable modeling was performed to evaluate predictors of diabetes outcomes after TPIAT.

At 1 year post-TPIAT, 83% of patients retained islet function (C-peptide >0.3 ng/mL), 20% were off insulin, and 60% had HbA1c <7%. Outcomes were most favorable in those with normoglycemia pre-TPIAT and in children. In multivariable analysis, insulin independence at 1 year was associated with pediatric age (odds ratio [OR] 2.3 [95% CI 1.3-4.3] vs. adults) and pretransplant HbA1c (OR 4.0 [1.7-9.1] per 1% decrease HbA1c). The odds of achieving a goal HbA1c <7% was associated with White race (OR 4.3 [1.7-11]) and pre-TPIAT HbA1c (OR 2.2 [1.1-4.3] per 1% decrease). Islet graft function was associated with pre-TPIAT fasting C-peptide (OR 2.18 [1.42-3.35] per 1 ng/mL increase) and baseline HbA1c (OR 1.89 [1.18-3] per 1% decrease).

Patients with normoglycemia and children more often were off insulin. In multivariable models, pre-TPIAT HbA1c was strongly predictive of insulin independence, islet function, and HbA1c <7% at 1 year.