Persistence of long-term insulin independence after islet transplantation and two subsequent pregnancies

• Published in: European journal of translational and clinical medicine 2023, Vol.6 (1), p.9-13
• Main Authors: Gondek, Sarah, Ogledzinski, Mateusz, Lin, William, Milejczyk, Kamila, Juengel, Braden, Potter, Lisa, Bachul, Piotr J., Basto, Lindsay, Perea, Laurencia, Wang, Ling-Jia, Tibudan, Martin, Witkowska, Zuzanna, Barth, Rolf, Fung, John, Witkowski, Piotr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: insulin; islet transplantation; pregnancy
• ISSN: 2657-3156; 2657-3148; 2657-3156
• DOI: 10.31373/ejtcm/166178

Pregnancy increases metabolic demand for insulin and may lead to the exhaustion of intraportally transplanted islets and post-gestational hyperglycemia. To prevent these complications, we implemented preemptive insulin supplementation during two subsequent pregnancies in an insulin-independent islet transplant recipient. This strategy resulted in optimal blood glucose control during the pregnancies, the preservation of the optimal islet graft function and the postpartum maintenance of long-term insulin independence.Pregnancy increases metabolic demand for insulin and may lead to the exhaustion of intraportally transplanted islets and post-gestational hyperglycemia. To prevent these complications, we implemented preemptive insulin supplementation during two subsequent pregnancies in an insulin-independent islet transplant recipient. This strategy resulted in optimal blood glucose control during the pregnancies, the preservation of the optimal islet graft function and the postpartum maintenance of long-term insulin independence.