Imaging of Islet Transplantation With PET and MRT

Background: It is suspected that the current need for repeated islets transplantation to treat diabetes type I is dependent on an early destruction of the islets when infused into the portal vein. Aim: To trace the fate of the islet at and after infusion into the portal vein. Method: Islets are labelled in vitro with a radioactive tracer that can be measured with positron emission tomography. 10-20 percent of the graft is labelled. Just prior to start of infusion labelled islets are mixed with unlabelled islets (80-90 percent of the graft). The tracer used is FDG and stands for 2-\[18F\]-2-deoxy-D-glucose. At infusion the patient is placed in the combined computer tomography and PET camera to follow the infusion. The imaging is almost continuous for 2 h at and after infusion. Expected results: Calculations of proportion of surviving islets and rate of destruction. Localisation and distribution of islets in the liver of the recipient.