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