The Impact of Empagliflozin on Renal Function and Kidney Injury Markers in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy
Abstract
Background: Diabetic nephropathy affects approximately 50% of type 2 diabetes patients. Early detection of kidney disease is crucial to reducing the deterioration of renal function. Reversing microalbuminuria towards normal showed beneficial effects in delaying the onset of renal impairment or even reversing the progression of the disease. Recently, empagliflozin, a sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, has received attention for its anti-inflammatory and reno-cardioprotective effects. Objective: This interventional open-label randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of empagliflozin as an add-on therapy for renal function parameters and other injury markers in type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients. Methods: The study enrolled twenty-one type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy and nineteen without nephropathy. Each group received empagliflozin 10 mg/day for 16 weeks as an add-on to the traditional treatment. Blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and at week 16 to evaluate the glycemic status, renal function, tubular injury markers, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Results: After 16 weeks, empagliflozin significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin A1c and urinary albumin/creatinine ratios in the nephropathy group. Compared with the non-nephropathy group, empagliflozin showed a significant increase in serum creatinine and a significant decrease in eGFRcr. Empagliflozin significantly reduced serum kidney injury molecule-1,…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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