Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists improve kidney graft survival following kidney transplantation

Previous research has portrayed the potential of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) in improving native kidney function.

Elaborating further, researchers in this present study elucidated the possible protective effects of GLP-1 RAs on kidney graft function after successful kidney transplantation (KTX).

They included all KTX recipients (KTRs) with type 2 diabetes who were followed up from 1-month post-transplantation for 24 months or longer.

They explained, “Our investigation aims to determine the association between GLP-1 Ras usage and other antidiabetic medications (non–GLP-1 RAs) and the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reduction for KTRs with T2D.

Based on the findings of our study, Seventy-three patients were GLP-1 RA users, and 73 were non–GLP-1 RA users. Six patients and one patient in the non–GLP-1 RA and GLP-1 RA groups had sustained eGFR reduction.

The use of GLP-1 RA following kidney transplantation lowered the risk of sustained eGFR reduction.

Concluding further, they wrote GLP-1 RAs lowered the reduction of eGFR when compared with non–GLP-1 RAs.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs)promoted better kidney graft survival following kidney transplantation.

Further reading:

Tetsuhiko Sato et al. Possible Advantage of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists for Kidney Transplant Recipients With Type 2 Diabetes, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2023;, dgad177, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad177