Renal resistive index as a new independent risk factor for new-onset diabetes mellitus after kidney transplantation

Pulse pressure and urinary albumin excretion were recently identified as risk factors of new-onset diabetes after renal transplantation (NODAT), suggesting that microvascular injury may be implicated in NODAT. However, the relationship between of microvascular injury and NODAT is unknown. In the present long-term (median follow-up: 5.7years; observation period: 4908 patient-years) retrospective study in 656 renal transplant recipients, the association between baseline renal resistance index (RI, used as a marker of widespread microvascular damage) and the incidence of NODAT was assessed. The incidence of NODAT was 11.2% and 14.6% at 5 and 10years, respectively, after transplantation. RI at 3months was a risk factor for NODAT [hazard ratio (HR) per 0.1: 2.19 (1.55-3.09), P<0.0001]. RI >0.75 (vs. 0≤0.75) was a potent a predictor of NODAT [HR: 3.29 (1.91-5.67), P<0.0001], even after adjustments [HR: 3.29 (1.50-7.24), P=0.0030] on age, weight, glucose, nephropathy, and arterial pressure. Similar results were observed when RI was measured at 1month [HR per 0.1:1.74 (1.33-2.27), P<0.0001] and 12months [HR per 0.1:1.74 (1.33-2.27), P<0.0001] after transplantation. High RI early after renal transplantation is a long-term risk factor for NODAT, and could be used to refine the individual risk of NODAT.