Dapagliflozin in Living-Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney fibrosis is a major pathological mechanism associated with chronic kidney disease progression and kidney allograft dysfunction. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue hypoxia have been implicated in the development of kidney fibrosis.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors), including dapagliflozin, have demonstrated kidney-protective and cardiovascular benefits in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. However, evidence in kidney transplant recipients remains limited, consisting mainly of small observational studies and fews randomized clinical trial.

This study evaluates whether dapagliflozin improves kidney allograft function, reduces albuminuria, modulates oxidative stress biomarkers, and influences kidney graft histological findings during the first year after living-donor kidney transplantation.

• Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to provide written informed consent
• Adult patients ≥18 years of age
• First living-donor kidney transplant recipients
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m² at screening
• Receiving standard immunosuppressive therapy (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone) with induction therapy (thymoglobulin or basiliximab)
• Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Recipients of deceased donor kidney transplant
• History of any other solid organ transplant
• Second kidney transplant
• Severe cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure class IV, recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, or transient ischemic attack within 8 weeks prior to enrollment)
• HbA1c >12% in patients with diabetes mellitus
• Current use of SGLT2 inhibitors at enrollment
• Known hypersensitivity or intolerance to SGLT2 inhibitors
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Hepatic impairment (AST or ALT >3 times the upper limit of normal, or total bilirubin >2 times the upper limit of normal at enrollment)
• Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) or Banff grade ≥2A acute cellular rejection during the first week post-transplant
• Use of anticoagulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pentoxifylline, or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (spironolactone, eplerenone, finerenone)
• Highly sensitized recipients or presence of donor-specific antibodies prior to enrollment
• Urological disorders (including recurrent urinary tract infections or urolithiasis within 12 months prior to enrollment) or severe genital infections
• Presence of de novo or recurrent glomerulopathy or BK virus nephropathy during the first week post-transplant.