ISLET TRANSPLANT
One goal motivated the work and
dedication of each member of the
team to excel — improving every
patient’s quality of life.
Most patients requiring an islet cell auto
transplant have chronic pancreatitis that causes
debilitating symptoms and an overall poor quality
of life. These patients generally experience severe
pain, frequent hospitalizations, nausea and
vomiting, chronic diarrhea and weight loss and
an escalating dependence on narcotics to address
their pain. Islet cell auto transplantation removes
the patient’s source of pain — the chronically
inflamed pancreas — while preserving the islet
cells, which are extracted from the removed organ
and re-infused (transplanted) into the patient,
where they are taken up into the liver for possible
insulin production.
“Chronic pancreatitis patients can be
challenging both in diagnosis and treatment,”
said Ernest Beecherl, MD, director, auto islet
cell transplantation. “Our goal is to make the
diagnosis as quickly and as precisely as possible
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and to provide appropriate treatment options,
so the patient can overcome their disability by
weaning off of their pain medications and re-
assimilating into society as a productive citizen.”
During 2016, the Baylor Dallas islet cell team
performed 18 autologous islet cell transplants,
published six manuscripts in peer-reviewed
journals and presented 14 abstracts at national
scientific meetings. In addition, Baylor Dallas
researchers participated in studies ranging from a
phase II clinical trial focused on improving islet
cell quality and engraftment to a trial studying
the efficacy and safety of Reparixin in pancreatic
islet auto transplantation. Reparixin is a drug that
inhibits the action of IL-8 in order to improve
post-transplant outcomes.
Because of the number of transplants performed,
the Baylor Dallas islet cell transplant program