Utilization and Outcomes of Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Receptor Agonists in Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Oct 22, 2025Clinical transplantation

Use and Results of Diabetes Drugs That Activate GLP-1 Receptors in Kidney Transplant Patients with Posttransplant Diabetes

AI simplified

GLP-1 Therapies on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Among 7681 kidney transplant recipients with post-transplant diabetes mellitus, 430 were prescribed GLP1 receptor agonists, resulting in a 5-year cumulative incidence of 9.8%.

Dulaglutide was the most commonly prescribed GLP1 receptor agonist, accounting for 46.1% of prescriptions.
The median time from diagnosis of post-transplant diabetes mellitus to first prescription was 1.7 years.
GLP1 receptor agonist use did not show a difference in risk for mortality or graft failure.
There was a 1.80-fold increased risk of diabetic retinopathy associated with GLP1 receptor agonist use.
No increased risk was found for pancreatitis, biliary complications, or medullary thyroid cancer.

AI simplified

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) provide survival benefits in people with diabetes, including kidney transplant (KT) recipients with pre-existing diabetes. Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is common, but the benefits of GLP1RAs remain undefined in this population. We aim to describe current usage practices and outcomes in PTDM.

METHODS: We used USRDS and Medicare claims data (2013-2022) to conduct a drug utilization profile of GLP1RA among 7681 first-time adult KT recipients with PTDM. We used survival analysis to estimate GLP1RA initiation incidence and associated patient, graft, and safety outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 430 adult KT recipients with PTDM were prescribed GLP1RA. Dulaglutide was the most commonly prescribed medication (46.1%). The 5-year cumulative incidence of GLP-1 receptor agonists prescription was 9.8%. Median (interquartile range) time from PTDM diagnosis to first prescription was 1.7 (0.6, 3.4) years. GLP1RA use was not associated with a difference in the risk of mortality or graft failure but was associated with a 1.80-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.91) increased risk of diabetic retinopathy. No increased risk of pancreatitis, biliary complications, or medullary thyroid cancer were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: GLP1RA use in KT recipients with PTDM was not associated with graft or patient survival, though longer follow-up is necessary. GLP1RA use was associated with an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy, and care should be taken when initiating these agents.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text ↗

Utilization and Outcomes of Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Receptor Agonists in Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the glp-1 therapies brief