Current study of the Joslin Diabetic Center and the University of Massachusetts Medical School demonstrates that ultrasound imaging technology can detect pancreas inflammation in living rats during the development of type1 diabetes.
In general, type1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of β-cells within the pancreatic islets. Type 1 diabetes is very often manifesting together with other autoimmune diseases, particularly Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Presently, there is no method for identification of patients in pre-autoimmune disease, at the very early stage of disease. Once validated new MRI-MNP technique will be able to detect any small inflammatory processes in humans body, which would be essential for developing and applying preventative approaches.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic tool which may be useful for type1 diabetes risk prediction prior to autoimmunity. Additionally it can help assessing the effectiveness of potential therapeutics.
