Safety and Efficacy of Tirzepatide in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: Experience of a Quaternary Care Center in the Middle East.

Abstract

Objectives: Diabetes constitutes a prevalent condition posttransplant, imposing a substantial burden on solid organ transplant recipients, including increased risk of graft loss and reduced overall survival. Consequently, the implementation of effective glycemic control strategies is vital. Tirzepatide, the first dual glucosedependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor coagonist, represents a novel therapeutic option in the general population; however, further data are needed to support its use in solid-organ transplant recipients.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective chart review, we examined a cohort of 41 heterogenous patients who were undergoing tirzepatide therapy after solid-organ transplant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from January 2017 to January 2024.

Results: Within our study cohort, the median time elapsed from transplant to tirzepatide therapy commencement was 2.91 years (range, 1.04-4.38 y), with use that lasted for a median follow-up duration of 11 months (range, 7-13 mo) until date of data collection. Tirzepatide facilitated optimal glycemic control, elicited significant weight reductions, and improved renal function without adversely affecting graft function or patient survival, showing an adverse effect profile similar to that of the general population, as shown in the literature.

Conclusions: Tirzepatide represents a promising therapeutic avenue for management of posttransplant diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus in solidorgan transplant recipients.