A team led by Ricordi at the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami spent the next six hours performing islet cell (insulin producing cells) isolation and purification. The purified islet cells were flown back to Walter Reed.

Late in the afternoon Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day, the cells were successfully injected into the patient's liver, with the University of Miami team coordinating the procedure via an internet connection with surgeons at Walter Reed.

Less than one week after surgery, there was clear evidence of pancreas islet function in the wounded warrior's liver, as shown by the presence of a specialized blood test called c-peptide.

As time passes, the pancreatic islets in the liver will take up new blood supply, and the patient's requirement of exogenous insulin is expected to decrease, facilitating diabetes management and preventing the onset of complications of the disease, and ultimately improving his quality of life. Although the patient remains in intensive care for observation, he is stable and responding well to the procedure.

SOURCE Walter Reed Army Medical Center