Objectives: The appearance of new onset diabetes is common after kidney transplant. Treatment options are limited because of renal function-related contraindications, interactions with immunosuppressive drugs, and side effects. We investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors in renal transplant recipients with new onset diabetes.
Materials and methods: We treated 12 patients with dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors, and 5 patients received insulin monotherapy as initial treatment of new onset diabetes after kidney transplant. All patients were followed for 12 months after diagnosis. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation), plasma immunosuppressive trough levels, serum lipids, blood pressure, and body weight were measured during outpatient visits. Effects of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and insulin on the aforementioned parameters were measured to compare values at time of diagnosis versus mean values of the last 6 months of follow-up.
Results: Patients were treated with linagliptin (4 patients), sitagliptin (4 patients), vildagliptin (2 patients), and alogliptin (2 patients). Patients had a mean age of 59.4 ± 12 years and a mean glycosylated hemoglobin A1c of 6.6% at diagnosis, which was decreased to 6.1% (P = .03) at 1 year of follow-up. Renal function remained stable, and plasma tacrolimus levels did not appear to be affected. No significant differences were shown in serum total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels aftertreatment. Nevertheless,triglyceride levels were significantly reduced (from 214.4 to 174.9 mg/dL; P = .0039). A decrease in body weight was also observed. Finally, patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase V inhibitors achieved better glycosylated hemoglobin A1c levels than those treated with insulin.
Conclusions: Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors appear to be a safe, effective, and hypoglycemia-free option fortreatment of new onset diabetes in renaltransplant recipients and possibly provide better diabetes control than insulin therapy.