Transfer from Porcine Insulin to Human Insulin in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: Effects on Insulin Binding to IgG and Glycemic Control

Summary

Thirty type I diabetic patients who were treated for at least 2 years with a combination of regular and lente monocomponent porcine insulins were allocated in a double-blind study to either continued porcine insulin treatment or a transfer to the corresponding semi-synthetic human insulins. Insulin binding to IgG measured by an immunoelectro-phoretic method, was followed at 3-month intervals for 1 year, and did not change after the transfer. The glycemic control, as assessed by hemoglobin A₁ levels, tended to deteriorate in the human insulin group during the first 3 months of the trial and then return to the baseline level. It is concluded that a transfer from highly purified porcine insulin to human insulin apparently does not change the insulin binding to IgG in already sensitized patients.

Key-Words

Insulin Antibodies - Glycosylated Hemoglobin - Type I Diabetes Mellitus