Abstract
Islet engraftment is crucial for achieving and maintaining insulin independence (II), but has not been easy to measure, so little is known about its time course. BETA-2 score is a novel, validated, composite score of graft function (integrating glucose, c-peptide, HbA1c and insulin use) based on a single fasting blood sample. We measured BETA-2 weekly to examine islet engraftment over 24 weeks in 16 c-peptide negative islet recipients who achieved II after one (1TX, n=9), or two (2TX, n=7) islet infusions. 1TX were II >1 year, 2TX required a second infusion within 3-6 months. Baseline characteristics were similar (1TX v 2TX: age 55±11 vs. 49±13 years, male 2/9 vs. 4/7, diabetes duration 32±12 vs. 37±13 years, weight 64.9±7.8 vs. 68.9±15.4 kg; p=ns) although HbA1c was higher in 1TX (9.1±1.0% vs. 8.2±0.6%, p<0.05). BETA-2 increased rapidly by W1, further at W4, remaining stable until W16, but was significantly higher in 1TX at each time point (table). In 2TX, BETA-2 increased further 1 week after second infusion, but remained lower than in 1TX between W18-W24.
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