The association between glycemic control and clinical outcomes after kidney transplantation

To analyze the relationship between glycemic control after renal transplantation and subsequent graft function and complications.

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 202 consecutive patients undergoing kidney transplantation to analyze the association between perioperative and chronic glycemic control and clinical outcomes of rejection, infection, and hospital readmission during the first year after kidney transplantation.

Mean in-hospital blood glucose (BG) was 157 ± 34.5 mg/dL. Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) during the first 12 months posttransplantation was 6.84 ± 1.46%. Fiftyfour patients (27%) were treated for acute or chronic rejection, 88 (44%) for infection, and 149 (74%) patients were readmitted at least once within the first year after transplantation. There were no significant differences in the risks for rejection, infection, or readmission across the 5 mean initial inpatient BG or subsequent HbA1c quintiles. In addition, there was no significant relationship between the percentage of BG measurements that fell in the "tight control" range of 80 to 110 mg/dL for each patient and any of the outcomes.

We did not find an association between glycemic control (perioperative or chronic) and the outcomes of graft rejection, infection, or hospital readmission in the first 12 months after renal transplantation. Our results suggest that "near normal" glycemic targets are not necessary for managing hyperglycemia after renal transplantation.