OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency and time of onset of new-onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT) and its associated factors.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Nephrology, Bahria International Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from April 2016 to April 2018.

METHODOLOGY

NODAT was diagnosed according to American Diabetes Association Criteria with fasting plasma glucose >126 mg/dl or random plasma glucose >200 mg/dl. Those with pre-existing diabetes and follow-up duration less than 12months, were excluded. Patients were divided in two groups: with and without NODAT, for statistical comparison.

RESULTS

The study included 115 patients, 101 were males and the median age was 35.0 (29.0-46.0) years. During the one-year period of follow-up, 28 (24.3%) patients developed NODAT. The mean time of onset of NODAT was 5.3 ± 3.6 months. Family history of diabetes was positive in 46% patients in NODAT group, which was significantly higher as compared to 5.7% in non-NODAT group with p-value of <0.001, which is significant. All patients with more than three HLA mismatches developed NODAT. The mean fasting glucose levels (FPG) before transplant in NODAT group was 96.6 ± 15.4 mg/dl, which was significantly higher than FPG of non-NODAT group, where it was 80.5 ± 12.2 mg/dl. It was interesting to note that 35.7% of hepatitis patients developed NODAT as compared to 6 % in non-NODAT group with p =  0.001.

CONCLUSION

NODAT was observed in 24.3% patients. The pre-transplant FPG, family history of diabetes, increased HLA mismatches, and hepatitis C infection were the major associated factors. Key Words: New onset diabetes after transplant, Fasting plasma glucose, Renal transplant.