Photo Credit: Yaroslav Astakhov
The following is a summary of “Longitudinal MRI Shows Progressive Decline in Pancreas Size and Altered Pancreas Shape in Type 1 Diabetes,” published in the October 2023 issue of Endocrinology by Wright, et al.
For a study, researchers sought to prospectively observe and comprehend the changes in the size and shape of the pancreas in individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Conducted at an academic medical center between 2014 and 2022, the prospective cohort study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine pancreas characteristics in individuals with T1D and healthy controls. A subset of individuals with new-onset T1D underwent continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in conjunction with MRI. A total of 91 individuals with T1D and 90 controls participated in the study. Longitudinal MRI was conducted on 53 individuals with new-onset T1D. Pancreas size and shape were evaluated using MRI, and glycemic variability was assessed in individuals using CGM.
In the initial year post-diagnosis, there was a discernible decline in both pancreas volume and pancreas volume index (normalized for body weight), persisting up to the fifth year after diagnosis. Cross-sectional analysis revealed a negative correlation between pancreas size in adults with T1D and age and disease duration. Pancreas volume and volume index remained stable in controls. Alterations in the shape of the pancreas were evident in T1D individuals, intensifying over the initial 5 years post-diagnosis. Individuals at genetic risk for T1D also exhibited altered pancreas size and shape. Combining size and shape analysis proved more effective in distinguishing T1D and control pancreases than size alone.
The study concluded that pancreas size experienced the most rapid decline near T1D diagnosis, persisting throughout adulthood, accompanied by changes in shape. The findings contributed to a comprehensive understanding of pancreatic changes in T1D.
Source: academic.oup.com/jcem/article/108/10/2699/7080799
