SGLT-2 inhibition in patients with kidney disease

Accustomed to managing diabetes with agents that mostly act by modulating the secretion and actions of insulin, with the advent of sodium-glucose linked transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, physicians are now aware that the kidney also needs to be considered in the spectrum of action of anti-hyperglycaemic agents. Though familiar with the need for dose adjustment when prescribing many of our current anti-hyperglycaemic drugs in the setting of kidney dysfunction, with the SGLT-2 inhibitors pharmacodynamic as well as pharmacokinetic aspects also need to be considered. Finally, through their ability to reduce intraglomerular pressure, systemic blood pressure and plasma uric acid concentration, the SGLT-2 inhibitors offers the possibility of kidney protection. An hypothesis that will need to be tested with long term studies that address changes in the kidney beyond albuminuria, assessing the rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate and ‘hard’kidneyrelated endpoints such as the need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis, transplantation) will be important in this setting.