No evidence for progressive deterioration in stimulated insulin secretion in renal transplant recipients after 12 years tacrolimus exposure

Marielle A. C. J. Gelens*, Johannes P. van Hooff, Len Usvyat, Maarten H. Christiaans

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims: Tacrolimus (Tac) inhibits insulin secretion in a Tac-trough blood level dependent way early post-transplant in renal transplant recipients (Rtx). It is unknown whether long-term exposure results into a progressive beta cells dysfunction.

Methods: Two independent cohorts of Tac-treated non-diabetic Rtx, previously participating in glucose metabolism studies using intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (ivGTT) were included: Fifty-eight Rtx were tested by ivGTT cross-sectional between 025 and 12.6 years post-transplant. Factors related to glucose metabolism parameters were explored by multilinear regression analysis. Eighteen non-diabetic Rtx tested by ivGTT 6 months post-transplant were retested at 12 years. The glucose metabolism outcome parameters were also adjusted according to the results of the cross-sectional study.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed 'Age', 'BMI' and 'use of steroids' to be significantly related, in different combinations, to the glucose metabolism parameters 'insulin resistance', fasting insulin level' and 'stimulated insulin secretion'. However 'time on tacrolimus' wasn't related to any parameter. In the longitudinal study, none of the glucose metabolism parameters (either analyzed crude or adjusted) deteriorated clinically or statistically significant. Numerically, 'stimulated insulin secretion' even increased.

Conclusions: Chronic Tac exposure does NOT lead to a progressive decrease in 'stimulated insulin secretion' between 6 months and 12 years post renal transplant in our population of 18 patients. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1384-1388
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Diabetes and Its Complications
Volume31
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2017

Keywords

  • Renal transplantation
  • Tacrolimus (Tac)
  • Insulin secretion
  • Insulin resistance
  • Post transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM)
  • NODAT
  • BETA-CELL FUNCTION
  • GLUCOSE-METABOLISM

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