ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO1011

Gestational Diabetes, Hypertension, and Preeclampsia in Kidney or Liver Transplant Recipients

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 2102 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Constantinescu, Serban, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Robinson, Noah Jamie, Astellas Pharma AG, Wallisellen, ZH, Switzerland
  • Zhu, Fengzheng, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Blogg, Martin, Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd, Chertsey, England, United Kingdom
  • Coscia, Lisa, Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Kliniewski, Dorothy, Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Moritz, Michael J., Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Background

Tacrolimus-containing regimens (Tac) are the most common immunosuppressant regimens post-transplant. This study estimated the prevalence of and risk factors for gestational diabetes (GDM), gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia among pregnant kidney or liver transplant recipients using Tac or non-tacrolimus-containing regimens (non-Tac), i.e. either cyclosporine-containing regimens (CsA), or only prednisone and/or azathioprine (P/A).

Methods

Transplant Pregnancy Registry International from its initiation (1991) to 31 Dec. 2020 was used to study 3 groups using different immunosuppressant regimens during pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess risk factors for maternal outcomes of pregnancies exposed to Tac or non-Tac.

Results

The prevalence of GDM was around 7% with no evidence of a systematic difference between Tac and non-Tac in the regression analysis. Each unit increase in BMI prior to pregnancy was associated with a 7% increased risk of GDM in liver recipients (aOR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.14). For Tac and CsA, the prevalence of GH was higher among kidney than liver recipients, with non-overlapping CIs (see table). There was no difference for risk of GH between Tac and non-Tac in the regression analysis. Tac was associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia than non-Tac in the kidney group (aOR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.39-2.26), but not in the liver group (aOR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.53-1.49). Each unit increase in BMI prior to pregnancy was associated with a 4% increased risk of preeclampsia in liver recipients (aOR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09).

Conclusion

In kidney or liver recipients, there was no evidence of higher risk of GDM or GH in Tac than non-Tac. In kidney recipients only, Tac was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. Higher BMI was associated with GDM and preeclampsia in liver recipients.

Transplanted organKidneyLiver
Treatment groupTacCsAP/ATacCsAP/A
Pregnancies, n84190244445821420
% GDM (n/N), 95% CI*7.8
(57/730)
6.0-10.0
7.3
(59/807)
5.6-9.3
9.8
(38/389)
7.0-13.2
4.5
(18/398)
2.7-7.1
1.4
(3/209)
0.3-4.1
0
(0/20)
0.0-16.8
% GH (n/N), 95% CI**15.4
(65/422)
12.1-19.2
18.7
(75/401)
15.0-22.9
4.8
(15/311)
2.7-7.8
4.6
(17/372)
2.7-7.2
7.8
(11/141)
4.0-13.5
0
(0/20)
0.0-16.8
% Preeclampsia (n/N), 95% CI***35.5
(221/623)
31.7-39.4
27.9
(193/692)
24.6-31.4
19.8
(75/379)
15.9-24.2
21.3
(71/334)
17.0-26.0
23.4
(40/171)
17.3-30.5
0
(0/13)
0.0-24.7

*GDM cohort, i.e. with no DM prior to pregnancy, n= 2553; **GH cohort, i.e. with no hypertension prior to pregnancy, n= 1667; ***Preeclampsia cohort, i.e. where gestation ≥20 weeks, n= 2212

Funding

  • Commercial Support – Astellas Pharma Europe B.V.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)