Islet Transplantation for Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

We will test whether pancreatic islets isolated from cadaveric human donor pancreata can be transplanted into the portal vein of patients with T1DM who have stable renal allografts to achieve insulin independence for the recipient. The protocol will employ a defined islet isolation procedure, percutaneous islet infusion into the recipient's portal vein via an intra-portal catheter, tight glycemic control during the peri-transplant period, and an immunosuppressive protocol that avoids glucocorticoids.