Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Mads Hornum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Beatriz Fernandez-Fernandez, Jimenez Diaz Foundation Health Research Institute, Spain
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Marius Trøseid, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Geir Tjønnfjord, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor II Trond Geir Jenssen, University of Oslo
Summary
Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment option for individuals with end-stage kidney disease, offering better survival and lower morbidity compared to dialysis. However, kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) still face increased health challenges and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. This is largely due to the need for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy and the limited functional lifespan of the transplanted kidney, which averages around 15 years.
In his doctoral thesis Inflammation following kidney transplantation as risk factor for post-transplant diabetes mellitus, graft loss, and mortality, Torbjørn Fossum Heldal and colleagues investigated how low-grade, subclinical inflammation affects long-term outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. While inflammation is already recognized as a risk factor for several chronic conditions and mortality in the general population, this study specifically examined its role in the transplant setting. The researchers found that patients with elevated levels of inflammation had a three- to fivefold increased risk of graft loss and mortality.
The inflammation grade was assessed using a composite score derived from several circulating biomarkers. This score proved useful in identifying high-risk patients who might otherwise go undetected through standard clinical monitoring. As such, the inflammation score may represent a valuable tool for risk stratification and individualized follow-up strategies.
The study also showed that low-grade inflammation significantly increased the risk of developing post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), a common complication linked to immunosuppressive therapy. PTDM is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events and overall poorer prognosis.
The main conclusion of the study is that subclinical inflammation following kidney transplantation is an important risk factor for increased morbidity, graft dysfunction, and reduced patient survival. Systematic assessment of inflammatory status may help identify vulnerable patients earlier and could inform targeted therapeutic strategies.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.