A Time-Based Meta-Analysis on the Incidence of New Onset Diabetes after Liver Transplantation

New Onset Diabetes After Organ Transplantation: Risk Factors, Treatment, and Consequences

New onset diabetes mellitus after organ transplantation (NODAT) is a frequent and serious complication of solid organ transplantation. It significantly impacts graft function, patient survival, and quality of life. NODAT is diagnosed based on the criteria for type 2 diabetes, with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) serving as the gold standard for diagnosis. The development of NODAT is influenced by a range of risk factors, which are classified into modifiable and non-modifiable categories. Post-transplant, regular glycemic monitoring at specific intervals is essential for timely diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Early intervention can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes-related complications. The treatment strategy for NODAT involves lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions. These include medications such as metformin, sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and insulin. Adjusting immunosuppressive therapy-either by reducing dosages or substituting drugs with lower diabetogenic potential-is a common preventative and therapeutic measure. However, this must be performed cautiously to avoid acute graft rejection, which poses a greater risk to the patient compared to NODAT itself. In addition to managing diabetes, addressing comorbidities such as hypertension and dyslipidemia is crucial, as they elevate the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. Patients with NODAT are also prone to developing common diabetes-related complications, including diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and peripheral vascular disease. Therefore, regular follow-ups and appropriate treatment are vital to maintaining quality of life and improving long-term outcomes.

A tale of 2 diseases: ALD and MASLD requirements and monitoring for liver transplantation

The requirements for eligibility and monitoring before and after liver transplantation for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are different and not as well defined for MASLD as they are for ALD. Two groups of patients with ALD considered for liver transplant (LT) include those with decompensated cirrhosis from alcohol and those with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis. Both groups are required to commit to lifelong abstinence from alcohol. Pretransplant eligibility criteria for LT in those with ALD varies between transplant centers, but generally, a period of alcohol abstinence with or without counseling is required to be considered for an LT, or the candidate must meet specific requirements. In contrast to ALD, the pre-LT requirements for patients with MASLD, such as weight loss goals or control of metabolic diseases, are not as well defined. Reviews and consensus statements on MASLD and LT discuss risk stratification and management for conditions associated with MASLD, but there are no consensus recommendations regarding obesity and metabolic disease goals before and after transplant. Candidates and recipients of LT may be held to more stringent requirements and monitoring for alcohol use compared to weight loss goals and metabolic parameters advised for patients with MASLD. Because of the disparities in requirements between ALD and MASLD, consensus recommendations should be developed for pre-LT and post-LT monitoring and requirements for candidates and recipients with MASLD.

Clinical characteristics of new-onset diabetes after liver transplantation and outcomes

Background

We aimed to identify the characteristics of new-onset diabetes after liver transplantation (LT) (NODAT) and investigate its impacts on post-transplant outcomes.

Methods

Adult LT patients between 2014 and 2020 who used tacrolimus as initial immunosuppression and survived 3 months at least were evaluated. Patients who developed NODAT within 3 months after LT were classified as NODAT group. Also, patients were further classified as history of diabetes before LT (PHDBT) and non-diabetes (ND) groups. Patient characteristics, post-LT outcomes, and cardiovascular and/or pulmonary complications were compared.

Results

A total of 83, 225, and 263 patients were classified into NODAT, PHDBT, and ND groups. The proportion of cholestatic liver disease and rejection within 90 days were higher in NODAT group. Mean serum tacrolimus concentration trough level in the first week after LT was 7.12, 6.12, and 6.12 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Duration of corticosteroids was significantly longer in NODAT compared to PHDBD or ND (416, 289, and 228 days, p < 0.001). Three-year graft and patient survival were significantly worse in NODAT than ND (80.5% vs. 95.0%, p < 0.001: 82.0% vs. 95.4%, p < 0.001) but similar to PHDBT. Adjusted risks of 3-year graft loss and patient death using Cox regression analysis were significantly higher in NODAT compared to ND (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.41, p = 0.004; aHR 3.61, p = 0.004). Incidence rates of cardiovascular or pulmonary complications after LT in NODAT were significantly higher than ND but similar to PHDBT.

Conclusion

Higher initial tacrolimus concentration and early rejection might be risk factors for NODAT. NODAT was associated with worse post-transplant outcomes.

Impact of Pretransplant Diabetes on Outcomes After Liver Transplantation: An Updated Meta-analysis With Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Preliver transplant diabetes mellitus (pre-LT DM) is a common comorbidity in LT recipients associated with poorer post-transplant survival. However, its relationship with other important outcomes, including cardiovascular and renal outcomes, remains unclear. This meta-analysis aims to provide an updated analysis of the impact of pre-LT DM on key post-LT outcomes.

METHODS

A search was conducted in Medline and Embase databases for articles comparing the post-transplant outcomes between patients with and without pre-LT DM. Pairwise analysis using random effects with hazard ratios (HRs) was used to assess the longitudinal post-LT impacts of pre-LT DM. In the absence of HR, pooled odds ratios analysis was conducted for secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty-two studies involving 77,615 LT recipients were included in this analysis. The pooled prevalence of pre-LT DM amongst LT recipients was 24.79%. Pre-LT DM was associated with significantly lower overall survival (HR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.81; P <0.01) and significantly increased cardiovascular disease-related mortality (HR, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.85; P =0.03). Meta-regression of other patient characteristics identified Asian ethnicity and hypertension to be significant predictors of worse overall survival, whereas African-American ethnicity was associated with significantly improved overall survival in patients with pre-LT DM. Further analysis of secondary outcomes revealed pre-LT DM to be a significant predictor of post-LT cardiovascular events and end-stage renal disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study illustrates the impact of pre-LT DM on post-LT survival, and cardiovascular and renal outcomes and provides a sound basis for revision of preoperative management of pre-LT DM.

Nutritional Strategies to Manage Malnutrition and Sarcopenia following Liver Transplantation: A Narrative Review

Persisting or newly developed malnutrition and sarcopenia after liver transplant (LT) are correlated with adverse health outcomes. This narrative review aims to examine the literature regarding nutrition strategies to manage malnutrition and sarcopenia after LT. The secondary aims are to provide an overview of the effect of nutrition strategies on the incidence of infections, hospital length of stay (LOS), acute cellular rejection (ACR), and mortality after LT. Four databases were searched. A total of 25 studies, mostly of mid-high quality, were included. Six studies found a beneficial effect on nutritional parameters using branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), immunomodulating diet (IMD), or enteral nutrition (EN) whereas two studies using beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) found a beneficial effect on muscle mass and function. Fourteen studies using pre- or pro-biotics, IMD, and EN were effective in lowering infection and six studies using IMD, BCAA or HMB reported reduced hospital LOS. Finally, four studies using HMB and vitamin D were effective in reducing ACR and one study reported reduced mortality using vitamin D after LT. In conclusion, nutritional intervention after LT has different beneficial effects on malnutrition, sarcopenia, and other advert outcomes. Additional large and well-constructed RCTs using validated tools to assess nutritional status and sarcopenia are warranted to ensure more robust conclusions.

Adverse effects of immunosuppression after liver transplantation

After solid organ transplantation the cornerstone of immunosuppression is based on calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), mostly tacrolimus. However, CNIs have a very narrow therapeutic window. The most important and serious side-effects of CNIs are nephrotoxicity, high blood pressure, post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTMD), i.e., new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT), dyslipidemia, and modification to the cardiovascular-risk profile. In this review, we will focus on tacrolimus-related toxicities in the setting of liver transplantation.

The Underutilization, Adverse Reactions and Efficacy of Statins after Liver Transplant: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

(1) Background: Treatment of dyslipidemia via statin therapy in the non-liver transplant (LT) population is associated with a mortality benefit; however, the impact of statin therapy in post-LT population is not well-defined. This meta-analysis seeks to investigate the safety and efficacy of statin therapy in post-LT patients. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search on Medline and EMBASE database was conducted. A single-arm proportional meta-analysis and conventional pair-wise meta-analysis were performed to compare different outcomes with a random effects model. (3) Results: A total of 11 studies were included in this study, with 697 LT recipients identified to be on statin therapy. Statins were underutilized with only 32% (95% CI: 0.15–0.52) of 1094 post-LT patients on therapy. The incidence of adverse events of 14% (95% CI: 0.05–0.25) related to statin therapy was low. A significant mortality benefit was noted in patients on statin therapy with HR = 0.282 (95% CI: 0.154–0.517, p < 0.001), and improved lipid profiles post LT. The use of statins also significantly decreased odds of graft rejection (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15–0.73) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11–0.89). (4) Conclusions: Statin therapy is safe and efficacious in post-LT patients. Future studies to evaluate the effects of interactions between statins and immunosuppressant therapy are warranted.