New-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation: prevalence, risk factors, and management

Abstract

New-Onset Diabetes After Transplantation (NODAT) is an increasingly recognized severe metabolic complication of kidney transplantation causing lower graft function and survival and reduced long-term patient survival mainly due to cardiovascular events. The real incidence of NODAT after kidney transplantation is difficult to establish, because different classification systems and definitions have been employed over the years. Several risk factors, already present before or arising after transplantation, in particular the employed immunosuppressive regimens, have been related to the development of NODAT. However the responsible pathogenic mechanisms are still far to be perfectly known. Awareness of NODAT and of the NODAT-related factors is of paramount importance for the clinicians in order to individuate higher risk patients and arrange screening strategies. The risk of NODAT can be reduced by planning preventive measures and by tailoring immunosuppressive regimens according to the patient characteristics. Once NODAT has been diagnosed, the administration of specific anti-hyperglycemic therapy is mandatory to reach a tight glycemic control, which contributes to significantly reduce posttransplant mortality and morbidity.