Prediabetes after kidney transplantation-a reason to worry?

Abstract

As many as 10% to 20% of patients undergoing kidney transplantation develop post-transplant diabetes mellitus, which is associated with increased mortality. Even borderline changes in glucose metabolism, so-called prediabetes, may involve a similar risk. A recent study by Porrini et al. showed for the first time that such changes in glucose metabolism are in fact associated with future cardiovascular disease and death in kidney-transplanted patients. This commentary discusses the relevance and clinical implications of these new findings.