This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease involving invasion of the insulin producing pancreatic islets by immune cells with eventual destruction of the islets. The process occurs over a variable number of years, and may eventually lead to a significant lack of insulin, high blood sugars, and overt diabetes. At present, this destructive process can only be indirectly measured by autoantibodies and directly measured by biopsy, usually at autopsy. The ability to detect the autoimmune destruction of the islets through non-invasive means would be useful from a diagnostic standpoint and being a more dynamic reflection of the ongoing process than autoantibodies could potentially aid in evaluation of therapeutic strategies allowing for earlier and shorter interventions.This is a pilot study designed to assess the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizing the new intravenous contrast agent ferumostran-10 (Combidex) to detect changes in the pancreas associated with the development of diabetes. The study includes blood work for markers or autoimmunity, diabetes and glycemic control as well as genes associated with diabetes and correlation with MRI imaging.
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