Novel Glucose-Lowering Therapies in the Setting of Solid Organ Transplantation

Abstract

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus is a frequent consequence of or a pre-existing comorbidity in solid organ transplantation (SOT) that is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. Novel glucose-lowering agents that have been shown to have cardiovascular morbidity/mortality benefit and renal protective effects such as sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are being incorporated into new standard of care for diabetes mellitus. There is a paucity of data regarding the use of these agents in SOT. In this article, we will aim to review available literature on newer glucose-lowering therapeutics in SOT, mainly sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, their mechanism of action, benefits, risks, and safety profiles.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Glucagon-like peptide 1; Kidney disease; Post-transplant diabetes mellitus; Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2; Solid organ transplantation.