Faculty Opinions recommendation of Autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus.

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Abstract
This is the first study to show that, in humans, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplatation (AHSCT) can restore beta cell function in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). This study follows the line of research that attempts to slow the decline of beta cell function in DM1 with immune intervention. A small number of patients (15) with DM1 diagnosed within the previous 6 weeks underwent high-dose immunosuppression and AHSCT. In the follow up period 14 became insulin free for a variable period of time. 12 were able to stop insulin soon after the procedure, while 2 had a delayed response. There was no mortality associated with the procedure, and toxicity was considered acceptable, with one only major adverse effect (bilateral pneumonia). This is an exceptional paper that open an exiciting new avenue in diabetes therapy. Although this can be considered a pilot study with some limitation (e.g. there is not a control group, the follow-up is too short), it indicates that a new strategy is feasible for reversing and preventing type 1 DM.

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