Posttransplant diabetes is a cardiovascular risk factor in renal transplant patients

POSTTRANSPLANT DIABETES mellitus (PTDM) is a serious complication that is grossly under recognized. Prior to the advent of cyclosporine, immunosuppression with high doses of steroids caused PTDM in up to 40% of patients. With modern regimens, the incidence of PTDM has been shown to decrease. Depending on the criteria used to define PTDM and the immunosuppressive treatment regimen, the reported incidence varies from 3% to 20%. The relationship between glycemic control and microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes is well established. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical impact of PTDM on the development of posttransplant cardiovascular disease (CVD).