Possible Advantage of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists for Kidney Transplant Recipients With Type 2 Diabetes

Context Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) have the potential to improve native kidney function. Objective This work aimed to elucidate the possible protective effects of GLP-1 RAs on kidney graft function after successful kidney transplantation (KTX). Methods This retrospective cohort study included all KTX recipients (KTRs) at our facility with type 2 diabetes who were followed up from 1 month post-transplantation for 24 months or longer as of December 31, 2020. We investigated associations between the use of GLP-1 RAs and other antidiabetic medications (non–GLP-1 RAs) and the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reduction (40% reduction compared with baseline for 4 months) for KTRs with type 2 diabetes. We calculated the propensity score of initiating GLP-1 RAs compared with that of initiating non–GLP-1 RAs as a function of baseline covariates using logistic regression. The inverse probability of the treatment-weighted odds ratio was estimated to control for baseline confounding variables. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor use was a competing event. The primary outcome was sustained eGFR reduction of at least 40% from baseline for 4 months post-transplantation. Results Seventy-three patients were GLP-1 RA users and 73 were non–GLP-1 RA users. Six patients and 1 patient in the non–GLP-1 RA and GLP-1 RA groups had sustained eGFR reduction. GLP-1 RA use after KTX was associated with a lower risk of sustained eGFR reduction. Conclusion GLP-1 RAs resulted in lower eGFR reduction compared with non–GLP-1 RAs and may contribute to better kidney graft survival after KTX.