T-activin in combined therapy of type I diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The effects of t-activin on the time course of immunohormonal, metabolic, and clinical parameters were studied in patients with newly diagnosed type I diabetes (n = 50, aged 17 to 35, followed up for 2 years; controls: 20 patients with type 1 disease treated traditionally). An appreciable decrease of basal and stimulated levels of C-peptide, shifted T-helper to T-supprcssor ratio caused by a decrease of T-suppressor level, and an increase of the immunoregulatory index were observed at the debut of type 1 diabetes; these shifts gave grounds sufficient to prescribe t-activin. Tactivin therapy for 2 years led to a decrease of the T-helper/T-suppressor imbalance due to an increase of the T-suppressor content, normalization of IRI, increase of the basal and stimulated C-peptidc levels, normalization of HbAlc at a daily insulin dose of 0.4 U/kg, and a stable course of the disease. In the controls the immune parameters and hormones did not normalize, daily insulin dose was 0.6 U/kg, and the disease course unstable. Hence, t-activin not only corrected the immunity, but metabolism as well, which resulted in stimulation of repair regeneration of pancreatic p-cells.