Posted by Jeff Josephson on January 02, 1999 at 15:35:12:
A woman from Michigan received an islet cell transplant without receiving a transplanted organ last Sept. 11, 1998. Her name is Jackie Warren Demiijohn from Farwell Michigan. To date her doctors claim all has been going well with a 50% reduction in the amount of insulin she needs to take by injection. The operation was performed at the University of Miami. Demiijohn also received "enriched" bone marrow cells that doctors believe will cut the risk of rejection. She is also receiving a new drug from Roche Biomedical-Boehringer Mannheim Corp. called IL-2 receptor antibody. They plan on taking her off the drug after approximately a year when they feel that the islet cells will tolerate the immune system. 12 other patients are planned within the year to take part in this islet cell transplant trial.
This info. taken from an article by Patricia Zengerle (Reuters) 12-09-98