Factors associated with insulin resistance after long term renal transplantation

Insulin resistance (IR) is an early and very strong predictor of post-transplant diabetes mellitus as well as an important cardiovascular risk factors even in the absence of hyperglycemia. Patients after renal transplantation are insulin resistant compared to a control group with similar demographic characteristics. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of IR in renal allograft patients without glucose disorders, to correlate IR indexes with the doses of immunosuppressive medications and other risk factors such as age, obesity and antihypertensive therapy used. One hundred and six patients who received a kidney transplant at Baskent University Hospital between 1992 and 2006 were enrolled the study. IR was diagnosed when HOMA-IR is of IR in our patients was 53.8% (n: 57), Waist-hip ratio and creatinine clearance was higher in IR patients (respectively p=0,001, p=0,037). HOMA-IR was correlated age, waist-hip ratio, body mass index (BMI) (respectively r=0,272,p=0,005, r=0,330,p=0,001, r=228,p=0,019). The waist-hip ratio was positively associated with HOMA-IR after multivariate analysis (beta=0,238, p=0,022). HOMA-IR level was 2,9±1,3, 2,4±1,5 and 3,1±1,8 in patients used cyclosporine A (CsA), sirolimus, tacrolimus (p>0.005). In patients used CsA, HOMA-IR was correlated with age, waist-hip ratio, and BMI (respectively r =0,328, p=0,048, r=0,421, p=0,010, r=0,402, p=0,014). it was correlated with BMI in patients used sirolimus (r=0,479, p=0,006), and waist-hip ratio (r=0,443, p=0,006) in patients used tacrolimus. BMI was associated with HOMA-IR in all groups in multivariate analysis (respectively beta=-0,421, p=0,012, beta=0,379, p=0.023, beta= 0,529, p=0.007). Our results indicate that abdominal waist-hip ratio is a major determinant of IR after renal transplantation. Even in the absence of hyperglycemia, renal transplant patients may have IR. If obesity is prevented, the long term patients and graft survival may be better than now.