HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DIABETES IN LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH HEPATITIS-C

We assessed the clinical and biochemical parameters associated with th e development or posttransplantation diabetes (PTDM) in 52 liver trans plant recipients followed up fur I S-ear, Diabetes was present before transplantation in 9.6% (5 of 52) of patients, and PTDM occurred in 23 % (11 of 47) of the remaining liver transplant recipients, Of the 13 p atients who had hepatitis C as the cause of their liver failure (KC-LT )), 8 (62%) developed PTDM: of the 34 patients with other causes of li ver failure, 3 (9%) developed PTDM (p < 0.001). Posttransplantation di abetes was also associated with the development of early posttransplan tation hyperglycemia, a higher number of liver rejection episodes, and lower serum albumin levels at 6 months. The association of PTDM with HC-LD remained significant in a logistic regression model after adjust ment or potential confounding variables. We conclude that PTDM is comm on in liver transplant recipients. Associated clinical parameters pred ictive of PTDM include a diagnosis of HC-LD before transplantation. th e development of early hyperglycemia after transplantation, multiple e pisodes of posttransplantation liver rejection and low serum albumin l evels at 6 months. The fact that HC-LD remained an independent risk fa ctor for the development of PTDM may suggest a direct or immune-mediat ed pancreatic effect of the virus.