Management of Diabetes Mellitus With Glucagonlike Peptide-1 Agonist Liraglutide in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Study

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan. Despite the use of steroids and/or calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in renal transplantation (RTx), additional challenges occur when a patient displays persisting metabolic disease, carries on an unhealthy lifestyle, or experiences genetic effects. Although RTx recipients could get better glycemic control by oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) or several insulin agents, they still need more than two kinds of medication. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon secretion and hepatic glucose production in a glucose-dependent manner. In addition, it delays gastric emptying and suppresses appetite through the central pathways. Herein we report on the long-term benefits of liraglutide in the management of DM in RTx recipients. We retrospectively retrieved 7 RTx patients in August 2015, who had been prescribed liraglutide due to their poor glycemic control; however, 2 of them discontinued their scheduled doses within 1 month. The mean follow-up period was 19.4 ± 7.6 (range 10.5–27.6) months. Glycemic control improved fasting blood sugar (FBS) from an initial 228.6 ± 39.1 mg/dL to a final FBS of 166.0 ± 26.6 mg/dL (P = .103), with a significant improvement in nadir glucose control (136.4 ± 5.8 mg/dL, P = .017) and with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from an initial 10.0 ± 1.6% to a final 8.1 ± 0.8% (P = .043). The average body weight was from an initial of 78.0 ± 7.8 kg to a nadir of 75.1 ± 9.1 kg (P = .032). Graft renal function of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) significantly improved from an initial 67.7 ± 18.7 to a nadir of eGFR 76.5 ± 18.7 mg/dL (P = .024). There was no significant change in urinary protein:creatinine ratio. Liraglutide may be safe and effective for RTx recipients with poor diabetic glycemic control, although there have been incidences of intolerance in some patients, and potential concern regarding absorption of oral medications due to a delay of gastric emptying. Evidence of liraglutide in diabetic RTx recipients is limited, so additional prospective clinical studies should be undertaken in the future. •Successful renal transplant (RTx) recipients have better life expectancy and quality of life, but they still face risk of higher morbidity and mortality with long-term immunosuppression and their underlying diseases, especially diabetes mellitus.•Liraglutide has a β-cell—protective effect from glucoco