SGLT-2 inhibitors, when administered to patients with type 2 diabetes, result in an improved glycemic control, which is attributable to the agent’s glucoretic effect, in addition to weight loss and reduced blood pressure. A huge number of controlled studies have demonstrated these effects for empagliflozin (Jardiance®). Moreover, the EMPA-REG OUTCOME TRIAL has also evidenced a clear cardiovascular and renal benefit for Jardiance®. This agent, indeed, reduces the risk of total and cardiovascular mortality respectively by 32% and 38%, and the risk of hospitalization for heart failure by 35%. The risk of nephropathy (incident or deterioration of a preexisting disease) is also reduced by 39%. The aim of this paper is to propose a state of the art in the field and to discuss the place of Jardiance® in clinical practice, based on scientific data. Key Words Type 2 diabetes, empagliflozin, cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, treatment
What is already known about the topic?
SGLT-2 inhibitors are a new therapeutic class in type 2 diabetes. The EMPA-REG OUTCOME TRIAL has recently evidenced a cardiovascular benefit in high risk patients treated with empagliflozin vs. placebo.
What does this article bring up for us?
The article confirms, based on recent scientific data, the place of empagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes due also to its cardiovascular benefit and, as recently shown, to a nephroprotective effect.