Outcome of cadaver kidney transplantation in 23 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Yet, only a minority of type 2 diabetics are considered today for kidney transplantation (KT). The scarcity of data on the outcome of such patients after KT prompted us to review our experience.


METHODS
Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 1996, 23 patients with type 2 DM received a first cadaver KT at a mean age of 57+/-9 (41-73) years, after a dialysis period ranging from 5 to 72 (mean 25+/-18) months. Only nine patients had a history of coronary and/or peripheral vascular disease before KT. All were given cyclosporin- or tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Post-KT follow-up ranged from 4 to 181 (mean 70+/-38) months. Outcome analysis focused on the impact of cardiovascular complications.


RESULTS
Patient survival at 1, 5 and 8 years was 91, 83 and 76% respectively. Death was due to infection in three patients and to a cardiovascular event in two. The actuarial risk of coronary, cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular, and any cardiovascular event after KT was 14, 13, 9 and 30% at 1 year, 20, 13, 50 and 58% at 5 years, and 20, 46, 66 and 72% at 8 years respectively. Post-KT hospital readmissions averaged 10 days/patient-year and were mostly related to the management of peripheral vascular disease.


CONCLUSIONS
KT is an excellent therapeutic option for selected patients with type 2 DM. Peripheral vascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity following KT. KT should be considered in type 2 diabetics with a low/medium cardiovascular risk.
Mieghem
A V
AV
Departments of Nephrology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Bruxelles, Belgium.
Fonck
C
C
Coosemans
W
W
Vandeleene
B
B
Vanrenterghem
Y
Y
Squifflet
J P
JP
Pirson
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome