Ertugliflozin protects kidneys while lowering blood sugar in diabetes

Written By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2020-06-02T12:15:00+05:30 | Updated On 2 Jun 2020 8:25 PM IST

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are associated with protective renal and cardiovascular effects in addition to lowering blood sugar levels and inducing weight loss in individuals with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

In a study published in Diabetologia, researchers have found that ertugliflozin preserves renal function in diabetics with baseline albuminuria. It, therefore, protects renal function in patients of diabetes in addition to controlling blood sugar.

Ertugliflozin is a selective SGLT2 inhibitor approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus as a glucose-lowering agent and is being evaluated in the ongoing cardiovascular outcome trial eValuation of ERTugliflozin effIcacy and Safety (VERTIS) CV.

Researchers conducted a Post hoc, exploratory analysis to evaluate evaluated the effect of Ertugliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria (urine albumin/creatinine ratio [UACR]) versus glimepiride or placebo/glimepiride among people with type 2 diabetes.

They used pooled data from two randomized controlled, active comparator studies from the eValuation of the ERTugliflozin effIcacy and Safety (VERTIS) program for the same. The authors used a post hoc exploratory analysis to investigate mean changes from baseline eGFR and UACR over 104 weeks. Ertugliflozin reduced eGFR at week 6, consistent with the known pharmacodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on renal function.

They found that over the course of 104 weeks, eGFR values returned to baseline and were higher with ertugliflozin than the non-ertugliflozin treatment group.it was found that Ertugliflozin was associated with significant preservation of eGFR over 104 weeks compared with glimepiride. In addition, Ertugliflozin was associated with a significant reduction in urine albumin/creatinine ratio over 104 weeks compared with glimepiride.

This study showed transient and modest reductions in eGFR with ertugliflozin, which returned to baseline by the end of the study, whereas eGFR declined throughout the study period in the non-ertugliflozin group. These results are suggestive of the preservation of renal function with ertugliflozin among people with type 2 diabetes and baseline albuminuria. The results are consistent with the pharmacodynamic effect seen with SGLT2 inhibitors and are suggestive of the preservation of renal function with ertugliflozin. In patients with baseline albuminuria, ertugliflozin demonstrated a reduction in albuminuria over 104 weeks.

For further reference log on to:

Cherney, D.Z.I., Heerspink, H.J.L., Frederich, R. et al. Effects of ertugliflozin on renal function over 104 weeks of treatment: a post hoc analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Diabetologia 63, 1128–1140 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05133-4

ertugliflozinsodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitorsglt2 inhibitorkidney protectionblood sugardiabetes

Source : Diabetologia

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751