June 17, 2002
By Lisa Ellis
InteliHealth News Service
SAN FRANCISCO — People newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes may be helped by a short treatment with a monoclonal antibody, researchers found in a small study at seven U.S. medical centers. The research was reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association.
Antibodies are chemicals produced by the immune system to fight viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders. Monoclonal antibodies are pure forms made in the laboratory for a specific purpose.
In type 1 diabetes, the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas are attacked, damaged and eventually destroyed by the body's own immune system. Therefore, the body becomes unable to make the insulin needed to turn blood glucose (sugar) into energy. The monoclonal antibody is believed to halt this immune system attack.
In the study, 17 people who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for six weeks or less were given the monoclonal antibody for 10 days. Fourteen other new patients were given no treatment.
When measured six, 12 and 18 months after the treatment stopped, blood-sugar control was significantly improved and insulin use reduced in the group that received the monoclonal antibody, but not in the control group.
