HLA Is Not Predictive of Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus

Adverse Drug Events after Kidney Transplantation

Introduction: Kidney transplantation stands out as the optimal treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease, provided they meet specific criteria for a secure outcome. With the exception of identical twin donor-recipient pairs, lifelong immunosuppression becomes imperative. Unfortunately, immunosuppressant drugs, particularly calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus, bring about adverse effects, including nephrotoxicity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, infections, malignancy, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, mouth ulcers, dyslipidemia, and wound complications. Since achieving tolerance is not feasible, patients are compelled to adhere to lifelong immunosuppressive therapies, often involving calcineurin inhibitors, alongside mycophenolic acid or mTOR inhibitors, with or without steroids. Area covered: Notably, these drugs, especially calcineurin inhibitors, possess narrow therapeutic windows, resulting in numerous drug-related side effects. This review focuses on the prevalent immunosuppressive drug-related side effects encountered in kidney transplant recipients, namely nephrotoxicity, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, leukopenia, anemia, dyslipidemia, mouth ulcers, hypertension, and viral reactivations (cytomegalovirus and BK virus). Additionally, other post-kidney-transplantation drugs such as valganciclovir may also contribute to adverse events such as leukopenia. For each side effect, we propose preventive measures and outline appropriate treatment strategies.

HLA Alleles Cw12 and DQ4 in Kidney Transplant Recipients Are Independent Risk Factors for the Development of Posttransplantation Diabetes

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

The association between specific HLA alleles and risk for posttransplantation diabetes (PTDM) in a contemporary and multiethnic kidney transplant recipient cohort is not clear.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk in Renal Transplant Patients

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a main public health problem, the prevalence of which is continuously increasing worldwide. Due to adverse effects of renal replacement therapies, kidney transplantation seems to be the optimal form of therapy with significantly improved survival, quality of life and diminished overall costs compared with dialysis. However, post-transplant patients frequently suffer from post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) which an important risk factor for cardiovascular and cardiovascular-related deaths after transplantation. The management of post-transplant diabetes resembles that of diabetes in the general population as it is based on strict glycemic control as well as screening and treatment of common complications. Lifestyle interventions accompanied by the tailoring of immunosuppressive regimen may be of key importance to mitigate PTDM-associated complications in kidney transplant patients. More transplant-specific approach can include the exchange of tacrolimus with an alternative immunosuppressant (cyclosporine or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor), the decrease or cessation of corticosteroid therapy and caution in the prescribing of diuretics since they are independently connected with post-transplant diabetes. Early identification of high-risk patients for cardiovascular diseases enables timely introduction of appropriate therapeutic strategy and results in higher survival rates for patients with a transplanted kidney.

Modifiable Variables Are Major Risk Factors for Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus in a Time-Dependent Manner in Kidney Transplant: An Observational Cohort Study

Modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for developing posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) have already been established in kidney transplant setting and impact adversely both patient and allograft survival. We analysed 450 recipients of living and deceased donor kidney transplants using current immunosuppressive regimen in the modern era and verified PTDM prevalence and risk factors over three-year posttransplant. Tacrolimus (85%), prednisone (100%), and mycophenolate (53%) were the main immunosuppressive regimen. Sixty-one recipients (13.5%) developed PTDM and remained in this condition throughout the study, whereas 74 (16.5%) recipients developed altered fasting glucose over time. Univariate analyses demonstrated that recipient age (46.2 ± 1.3vs. 40.7 ± 0.6 years old, OR 1.04; P = 0.001) and pretransplant hyperglycaemia and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (32.8% vs. 21.6%, OR 0.54; P = 0.032 and 57.4% vs. 27.7%, OR 3.5; P < 0.0001, respectively) were the pretransplant variables associated with PTDM. Posttransplant transient hyperglycaemia (86.8%. 18.5%, OR 0.03; P = 0.0001), acute rejection (P = 0.021), calcium channel blockers (P = 0.014), TG/HDL (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) ratio ≥ 3.5 at 1 year (P = 0.01) and at 3 years (P = 0.0001), and tacrolimus trough levels at months 1, 3, and 6 were equally predictors of PTDM. In multivariate analyses, pretransplant hyperglycaemia (P = 0.035), pretransplant BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (P = 0.0001), posttransplant transient hyperglycaemia (P = 0.0001), and TG/HDL ratio ≥ 3.5 at 3-year posttransplant (P = 0.003) were associated with PTDM diagnosis and maintenance over time. Early identification of risk factors associated with increased insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion, such as pretransplant hyperglycaemia and overweight, posttransplant transient hyperglycaemia, tacrolimus trough levels, and TG/HDL ratio may be useful for risk stratification of patients to determine appropriate strategies to reduce PTDM.

New onset of diabetes after transplantation - an overview of epidemiology, mechanism of development and diagnosis

New onset of diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a serious and common complication following solid organ transplantation. NODAT has been reported to occur in 2% to 53% of renal transplant recipients. Several risk factors are associated with NODAT, however the mechanisms underlying were unclear. Renal transplant recipients who develop NODAT are reported to be at increased risk of infections, cardiovascular events, graft loss and patient loss. It has been reported that the incidence of NODAT is high in the early transplant period due to the exposure to the high doses of corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors and the physical inactivity during that period. In addition to these risk factors the traditional risk factors also play a major role in developing NODAT. Early detection is crucial in the management and control of NODAT which can be achieved through pretransplant screening there by identifying high risk patients and implementing the measures to reduce the development of NODAT. In the present article we reviewed the literature on the epidemiology, risk factors, mechanisms involved and the diagnostic criteria in the development of NODAT. Development of diagnostic tools for the assessment of β-cell function and determination of the role of glycemic control would include future area of research.

Diagnosis, management and treatment of glucometabolic disorders emerging after kidney transplantation: a position statement from the Nordic Transplantation Societies

After successful solid organ transplantation, new-onset diabetes (NODAT) is reported to develop in about 15-40% of the patients. The variation in incidence may partly depend on differences in the populations that have been studied and partly depend on the different definitions of NODAT that have been used. The diagnosis was often based on 'the use of insulin postoperatively', 'oral agents used', random glucose monitoring and a fasting glucose value between 7 and 13 mmol/l (126-234 mg/dl). Only few have used a 2-h glucose tolerance test performed before transplantation. There is a huge variation in the literature regarding risk factors for developing NODAT. They can be divided into factors related to glucose metabolism or to patient demographics and the latter into modifiable and nonmodifiable. Screening for risk factors should start early and be re-evaluated while being on the waitlist. Patients on the waiting list for renal transplantation and transplanted patients share many characteristics in having hyperglycaemia, disturbed insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance. We present guidelines for early risk factor assessment and a screening/treatment strategy for disturbed glucose metabolism, both before and after transplantation. The aim was to avoid the increased cardiovascular disease and mortality rates associated with NODAT.

Cellular and physiological mechanisms of new-onset diabetes mellitus after solid organ transplantation

New-onset diabetes after transplantation is recognized as one of the metabolic consequences which may increase the risk of morbidity and mortality after solid organ transplantation. The pathophysiology of new-onset diabetes after transplantation has not been clearly defined and may resemble that of Type 2 diabetes, characterized by predominantly insulin resistance or defective insulin secretion, or both. This review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the prevalence, consequences, pathogenesis, and management of new-onset diabetes after transplantation, with a major focus on the possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder. The aetiology of new-onset diabetes after transplantation is multifactorial, with diabetogenic immunosuppressive drugs playing a major role. Multiple cellular and physiologic mechanisms are involved in the process. Selection of an appropriate maintenance immunosuppressive regimen should involve balancing the risk of patient and graft survival vs. the potential for new-onset diabetes after transplantation.

Risk factors for new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation

New-onset diabetes after transplantation, a common complication following kidney transplantation, is associated with adverse patient and graft outcomes. Our understanding of the risk factors associated with this metabolic disorder is improving and both transplantation-specific and nonspecific factors are clearly involved. Knowledge of these risk factors is important so that clinicians can implement pre-emptive risk stratification strategies and to guide therapeutic, risk-attenuation approaches in patients who develop transplant-associated hyperglycemia. In this Review, we explore the current understanding of the diverse range of risk factors that contribute to abnormal glucose metabolism after transplantation, with the aim of helping to guide clinical decision-making using appropriate risk stratification.