Kidney Transplant: More than Immunological Problems

Abstract

Kidney transplantation (KT) represents a pivotal intervention for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), significantly improving survival and quality of life. However, KT recipients face an array of non-immunological complications, collectively amplifying cardiovascular (CV) and metabolic risks. This review explores the intersection of cardio-metabolic syndrome and KT, emphasizing the recently introduced cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. CKM syndrome integrates metabolic risk factors, CKD, and CV disease, with KT recipients uniquely predisposed due to immunosuppressive therapies and pre-existing CKD-related risks. Key issues include post-transplant hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), and anemia. Immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and mTOR inhibitors contribute significantly to these complications, exacerbating metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and lipid abnormalities. For instance, corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors heighten the risk of PTDM, while mTOR inhibitors are strongly associated with dyslipidemia. These pharmacologic effects underscore the need for tailored immunosuppressive strategies. The management of these conditions requires a multifaceted approach, including lifestyle interventions, pharmacological therapies like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, and close monitoring. Additionally, emerging therapies hold promise in addressing metabolic complications in KT recipients. Proactive risk stratification and early intervention are essential to mitigating CKM syndrome and improving outcomes. This comprehensive review highlights the importance of integrating cardio-metabolic considerations into KT management, offering insights into optimizing long-term recipient health and graft survival.

Keywords: cardio-metabolic syndrome; cardiovascular risk; chronic kidney disease; dyslipidemia; hypertension; kidney transplantation; post-transplant anemia; post-transplant diabetes.