Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Repaglinide in the management of new-onset diabetes mellitus after renal transplantation.

Türk T, Pietruck F, Dolff S, Kribben A, Janssen OE, Mann K, Philipp T, Heemann U, Witzke O

Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of Diusburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the short-acting insulin secretion drug repaglinide in new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) after renal transplantation. Twenty-three Caucasian patients with NODM after renal transplantation were selected to receive repaglinide therapy and were followed for at least 6 months. A control group treated with rosiglitazone was chosen for comparison. Successful repaglinide treatment was defined as a significant improvement of blood glucose concentrations and HbA1c <7% in the absence of glucosuria and without the need for the addition of further anti-diabetic agents. After 6 months of treatment with repaglinide, 14 of the 23 patients were successfully treated. Mean HbA1c decreased from 7.6 +/- 0.6% to 5.8 +/- 0.6% in 14 patients treated successfully. In nine patients, hyperglycemia persisted, and they were switched to insulin treatment (HbA1c 8.5 +/- 2.9% at the beginning to 7.4 +/- 2.2%). Mean serum creatinine levels, cyclosporine A and tacrolimus blood levels did not change significantly following institution of repaglinide therapy. The rate of successful treatment and the degree of HbA1c decrease were similar compared to rosiglitazone-treated control patients. The data from our observational study indicate that repaglinide can be an effective treatment option in Caucasian patients with NODM after renal transplantation.

Published 16 March 2006 in Am J Transplant, 6(4): 842-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Organ Transplantation Research Today. All Rights Reserved.