Islet graft function by mixed meal tolerance testing is sustained over 4 years in young children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation

Children with intractable chronic pancreatitis may require total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) for pain relief. The IAT reduces the severity of post- pancreatectomy diabetes. We analyzed 635 mixed meal tolerance tests (MMTT) in 134 children undergoing TPIAT to determine whether superior survival of islet grafts explains higher rates of insulin independence previously reported in young children (n = 52, age 3–11 years) versus adolescents (n = 82, age 12–18 years). For MMTT, children consumed Boost HP and we sampled C-peptide and glucose repeatedly over 2 h. The trajectory of outcomes before and after TPIAT was compared between children and adolescents using data from pre-TPIAT and 3, 6 months, 1, 2, 3, and 4 years post-TPIAT and mixed linear models with a random effect for child. Cox regression was used to analyze time outcomes (e.g., time to first off insulin). Islet mass transplanted, measured as islet equivalents (IEQ), was higher in adolescents (p =.003) but IEQ/kg was higher in young children (p <.001) because of their lower weight. AUC C-peptide in young children increased somewhat over 4 years, but was stable in adolescents (p =.0013). AUC glucose increased more in adolescents over time post-TPIAT (p =.0024). Islet function by AUC C-peptide:AUC glucose ratio was better preserved in young children (p <.001). Adolescents were less likely to wean off insulin (hazard ratio.44 [95% CI.28,.69]). These data support an advantage of young age in islet graft survival after TPIAT. The greater likelihood of insulin independence in young children may be driven by better islet survival after transplant.