Work

Reanalysis of study of pancreatic effects of incretin therapy: methodological deficiencies

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: A recently published study by Butler et al. concluded that incretin treatment had adverse effects on the human type 2 diabetic pancreas including 'a marked expansion of the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic compartments, the former being accompanied by increased proliferation and dysplasia and the latter by α-cell hyperplasia with the potential for evolution into neuroendocrine tumours'. Incretin therapy has become widely used for type 2 diabetes, so these conclusions have instigated major concerns with regard to patient safety. We reassessed both the clinical case information and virtual microscopy images of the same 34 cases that were used in the Butler study as well as Network for Pancreatic Organ Donation (nPOD) cases that were not included. Whereas we would like to stress that it is important to investigate in depth any indication that incretin treatment may lead to inflammation or dysplasia in the pancreas, we find that the data presented in the Butler paper have serious methodological deficiencies that preclude any meaningful conclusions.

Source: Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism

DOI: 10.1111/dom.12257

Authors: S. Bonner‐Weir, P. A. In't Veld, G. C. Weir

Institutions: Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes Treatment and Management

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases