Evidence Hub

The systemic and kidney hemodynamic response to empagliflozin, losartan and their combination varies between individuals

Wever BE, Scholtes RA, Mosterd CM, Hesp AC, Smits MM, Heerspink HJL, van Raalte DH

Journal of nephrology, 2025

24 participants · 1 citation

Abstract

Background: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) and sodium glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) are known for their kidney protective properties, but both show significant residual risk in large outcome trials. In these trials, SGLT2i were introduced on top of RASi; the individual response to each drug is currently unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate the individual reactions to the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) losartan and the SGLT2i empagliflozin and their combination on measured GFR (mGFR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, 4-armed, crossover study, 24 participants received 7 days of empagliflozin 10 mg once daily, losartan 50 mg once daily, combination therapy or matching placebo. We visualized individual drug response variability. We further explored predictors of mGFR and SBP changes.

Results: During empagliflozin administration, a greater than 10% reduction in mGFR was observed in 26% of participants receiving empagliflozin, in 30% of those receiving losartan, and in 39% among participants on combination therapy. In comparison, a greater than 10% reduction in SBP was observed in 35% of participants on empagliflozin, in 39% of those receiving losartan and in 43% on combination therapy. A large part of the participants who did not respond to one drug, did respond to the other drug or their combination. Monotherapy SGLT2i did not correlate with monotherapy ARB in mGFR change or SBP change.

Conclusions:…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 24 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free