The BETA-2 Score: a Tool for Assessing Beta Cell Function in Clinical Islet Transplantation and Type 1 Diabetes Intervention Trials

• Author / Creator

  Lam, Anna

• Preservation of beta cell function is integral to clinical islet transplantation (CIT) and in the development of treatments which halt the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Outcome assessment remains difficult in both fields as the preservation of beta cell function and maintenance of glucose homeostasis must be considered. Stimulated C-peptide is the gold standard for measuring beta cell function, but it is time and labor intensive to measure. Insulin use and measures of glycemic control are inter-dependent and alone are unlikely to capture changes in beta cell function. The BETA-2 score was developed in CIT as a practical measure of beta cell function that also provides information on overall metabolic status. I demonstrate here the utility of the BETA-2 score in assessing islet engraftment in CIT. I also explore the use of the BETA-2 score as a clinical endpoint in T1D intervention trials.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • BETA-2 score
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Beta cell function
  • Islet Transplantation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2017

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3HT2GR82

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.