Endocrine Abstracts

Recently, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated cardioprotective effects. However, findings for major adverse CV events (MACE) outcomes with dapagliflozin are not concordant with the empagliflozin studies and the possible mechanisms of cardioprotective effects are not fully understood. The aim of the study was to compare the two distinct SGLT2i, empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, in their influence on the biomarkers of fibrosis and inflammation.

Materials and methods

Sixty two patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 3 major risk factors for cardiovascular events were included in the study. Patients were randomized into either empagliflozin group (10 mg/day) or dapagliflozin group (10 mg/day). Duration of the study was 6 months. The outcome measures included changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), galectin-3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 inhibitor (TIMP-1), procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide (P1CP), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), ST-2, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Results

Baseline characteristics were not different in the empagliflozin and dapagliflozin group. After 6 months of treatment, patients in both groups showed significant improvements in body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose (FG), and HbA1c levels. There were no significant differences in galectin-3, P1CP, MMP-9, ST-2, CRP, IL-6, TIMP-1 and PON1 concentrations between groups after 6 months of treatment.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that dapagliflozin and empagliflozin did not differ in their influence on biomarkers of fibrosis and inflammation. However, larger studies are needed to clarify exact cardioprotective mechanisms of SGLT2i.