Effects of cyclosporine immunosuppression in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus of recent onset

CR Stiller, J Dupre, M Gent, MR Jenner, PA Keown… - Science, 1984 - science.org
CR Stiller, J Dupre, M Gent, MR Jenner, PA Keown, A Laupacis, R Martell, NW Rodger…
Science, 1984science.org
Type I diabetes may be an autoimmune disorder, although the evidence is largely
circumstantial. The natural history of the disease after diagnosis includes partial remission in
most patients, but only about 3 percent achieve transient insulin independence. β Cell
function, as indicated by the plasma concentration of C-peptide, is lost over 6 to 30 months
and islet cell antibodies disappeared over 1 to 2 years. This article describes a pilot study in
which 41 patients were treated with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine for 2 to 12 …
Type I diabetes may be an autoimmune disorder, although the evidence is largely circumstantial. The natural history of the disease after diagnosis includes partial remission in most patients, but only about 3 percent achieve transient insulin independence. β Cell function, as indicated by the plasma concentration of C-peptide, is lost over 6 to 30 months and islet cell antibodies disappeared over 1 to 2 years. This article describes a pilot study in which 41 patients were treated with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine for 2 to 12 months. Of 30 patients treated within 6 weeks of diagnosis, 16 became insulin independent with concentrations of plasma C-peptide in the normal range and decreasing titers of islet cell antibodies. Of 11 patients who entered the study 8 to 44 weeks after diagnosis, two achieved this state. These results indicate that a controlled trial of the effects of cyclosporine in type I diabetes should be conducted.
AAAS