Umbilical cord blood transfusion study brings surprising results for people with type 1 diabetes

A Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) funded study may have reduced the severity of type 1 diabetes in a group of newly diagnosed children. The transfusion of stored, autologous (the person’s own), umbilical cord blood could reset the immune system and slow the destruction of insulin producing cells. Although the results are positive, the study is still in its early stages and further phases are still to be completed. Twenty patients were used for the initial research and more tests will need to be done before any definite conclusions can be drawn. The findings of the report were presented yesterday at the American Diabetes Association’s 67th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago in the United States of America.

Commenting on the research, Michael J. Haller, MD, Assistant Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said: “After only six months, it is too early to tell how long the children will benefit from this therapy, but early signs indicate that it may have helped enhance blood glucose control and management.” The lead author of the study continued: “This first use of cord blood in diabetes will help us focus on what it is in the cord blood that yielded the benefit. We then hope to isolate and grow that cell type to develop therapies for a larger pool of people, not just those who have stored cord blood.”

The results also indicated that the children who undertook the cord blood transfusion might continue to produce their own insulin for longer. If this does happen, it could reduce the risk of them developing some of the complications brought on by type 1 diabetes, including kidney disease, blindness, coronary heart disease and limb amputation.

Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF in the UK, said: “These early results are a positive sign that we are continuing to learn and understand more about type 1 diabetes. If further tests produce similar results and we are able to establish what element of the cord blood is causing this effect, that could take us another step along the way to achieving our ultimate goal of finding a cure.”

If you would like to know more about the umbilical cord blood infusion study, please visit the JDRF International website.

For media enquiries please contact Ross Kester on 020 7713 2036, email rkester@jdrf.org.uk.