OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of established insulin resistance indexes, based on fasting blood parameters, in a stable renal transplant population.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and McAuley's index were assessed for correlation and agreement with whole-body glucose uptake (M value) divided by prevailing serum insulin concentrations (I value) assessed during a hyperinsulinemiceuglycemic clamp in 51 stable renal transplant recipients, who were at a median of 7.5 years after transplant. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to determine independent risk factors for insulin resistance.RESULTS -The M/I value correlated with fasting insulin concentration (r ϭ Ϫ0.56), HOMA (r ϭ Ϫ0.53), QUICKI (r ϭ 0.52), and McAuley's index (r ϭ 0.61) (all P Ͻ 0.01). Linear regression showed agreement between all indexes and insulin resistance. However, McAuley's index showed the strongest agreement irrespective of age, sex, renal allograft function, and obesity. In multivariate analysis, fasting insulin concentration ( ϭ Ϫ0.59, P ϭ 0.002), fasting triglyceride concentration ( ϭ Ϫ0.33, P ϭ 0.04), and BMI ( ϭ Ϫ1.22, P ϭ 0.05) were independently associated with the M/I value.CONCLUSIONS -All investigated insulin resistance indexes were valid estimates of insulin resistance in the long-term stable renal transplant population. However, correlation and agreement were strongest for McAuley's index. In addition to fasting insulin and triglyceride concentrations, of which McAuley's index is composed, only BMI seemed to be independently associated with insulin resistance in this population.
Diabetes Care 28:2424 -2429, 2005T he incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease have been estimated to be three to five times greater in the renal transplant population than in the general population (1,2). A recent study showed that the majority of renal transplant outpatients have a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors, i.e., obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and posttransplant diabetes, which are consistent with the metabolic syndrome (3). According to preliminary data of the ALERT (Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation) trial, metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (4).Insulin resistance is thought to be the central pathophysiological feature underlying the metabolic syndrome (5). To study the role of insulin resistance in the high incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population, validated insulin resistance indexes are needed. Insulin resistance indexes have not yet been validated in comparison to the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in the stable renal transplant population. Indexes that are based on fasting blood parameters alone have distinct advantages over other methods of quantifying insulin resistance in that they are less cumbersome and less time consuming for large-scale epidemiological...