Fetal Pancreatic Stem-Cell Transplant in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of fetal stem cell transplant for treating patients with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and 5 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (aged 18-56 years) received a fetal pancreatic stem-cell transplant (cells were 16-18 wk gestation) performed by intravenous infusion at 50 mL/hour. The quantity of fetal stem cells infused was ≥ 5-8*106. We analyzed the patients' C-peptide and glycated hemoglobin levels both before and 3 months after fetal stem cell transplant. RESULTS In patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, fetal stem-cell transplant led to a significant increase in C-peptide levels, from 0.09 ± 0.01 ng/mL to 0.20 ± 0.07 ng/mL, after 3 months (P < .008). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with fetal pancreatic stem cells may be beneficial for treating patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.