Correlation between HLA and posttransplantation diabetes mellitus in the Han population in South China

Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common metabolic complication in renal transplant recipients. Some studies have revealed predisposing or protective HLA genes for PTDM.

To describe the characteristics of PTDM in patients in the south of China.

The present study included 195 living-donor kidney transplant recipients. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the study was approved by our Institutional Ethics Committee. Each donor-recipient pair was related. Twenty-two patients had PTDM, whereas 173 did not. The frequency of each HLA phenotype was compared between these 2 groups. The 195 patients were divided into 2 groups according to immunosuppression regimen, a cyclosporine group and a tacrolimus group, and the incidence of PTDM was compared between the groups. Patients were then subdivided into 2 groups according to age, an elderly group (age 40 years or older) and a younger group (age younger than 40 years), and the incidence of PTDM was calculated and compared between these 2 groups.

HLA-A30 and HLA-DR7 seem to be predisposing genes for PTDM in patients in the south of China; Low dosages of calcineurin inhibitors were used in our center, There was no significant difference in the incidence of PTDM between the CsA and Tac groups; The incidence of PTDM in the elderly group was significantly higher than that in the younger group.

Patients receiving HLA-A30 and HLA-DR7 antigens, and elderly patients are at higher risk of developing PTDM. Tacrolimus does not significantly increase the incidence of PTDM.