New-onset diabetes mellitus associated with sirolimus use in renal transplant recipients

Abstract

New-onset diabetes after transplantation and impaired glucose tolerance are very common in renal transplant patients. New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, reduced graft and patient survival. Several risk factors for NODAT have been identified: age, obesity, family history of diabetes mellitus and HCV infection. In addition, steroid and calcineurin inhibitors also contribute to the development of NODAT. Sirolimus causes immunosuppressive effects by inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and has well known side effects. The effects of sirolimus on glucose metabolism and contribution to NODAT development are not clearly known. In this report, we presented five RTX patients who developed NODAT under the treatment of sirolimus.