Treatment of severe diabetes mellitus for more than one year using a vascularized hybrid artificial pancreas

We report the successful application of a hybrid artificial pancreas device for the treatment of severe diabetes mellitus induced by total pancreatectomy in two dogs. Control of the blood sugar was achieved for more than 1 year in these two animals without any immunosuppressive therapy. Although exogenous insulin was required therapy. Although exogenous insulin was required during the latter part of the study period, removal of the devices resulted in a rapid increase in the fasting blood sugar levels and the exogenous insulin requirements (P < 0.001 versus weeks 1-52 in both dogs). Metabolic studies, postexplant in vitro studies, and histologic analyses confirmed islet cell survival and insulin production by the devices. This hybrid artificial pancreas has a clear clinical potential for islet cell transplantation without immunosuppression.