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Abdel Shaheed C, Carland JE, Graham GG, Stocker SL, Smith G, Hicks M, Williams KM, Furlong T, Macdonald P, Greenfield JR, Smith FC, Chowdhury G, Day RO. Is the use of metformin in patients undergoing dialysis hazardous for life? A systematic review of the safety of metformin in patients undergoing dialysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2019; 85:2772-2783. [PMID: 31471973 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Metformin may have clinical benefits in dialysis patients; however, its safety in this population is unknown. This systematic review evaluated the safety of metformin in dialysis patients. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomised controlled trials and observational studies evaluating metformin use in dialysis patients. Three authors reviewed the studies and extracted data. The primary outcomes were mortality, occurrence of lactic acidosis and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients taking metformin during dialysis treatment for ≥12 months (long term). Risk of bias was assessed using Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-1). Overall quality of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS Fifteen observational studies were eligible; 7 were prospective observational studies and 8 were case reports/case series. No randomised controlled trials were identified. The 7 prospective observational studies (n = 194) reported on cautious metformin use in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. Only 3 provided long-term follow-up data. In 2 long-term studies of metformin therapy (≤1000 mg/d) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), 1 reported 6 deaths (6/83; 7%) due to major cardiovascular events (3 MI) and the other reported no deaths (0/35). One long-term study of metformin therapy (250 mg to 500 mg thrice weekly) in patients undergoing haemodialysis reported 4 deaths (4/61; 7%) due to major cardiovascular events (2 MI). These findings provide very low-quality evidence as they come from small observational studies. CONCLUSION The evidence regarding the safety of metformin in people undergoing dialysis is inconclusive. Appropriately designed randomised controlled trials are needed to resolve this uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Abdel Shaheed
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jane E Carland
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Garry G Graham
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sophie L Stocker
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Greg Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark Hicks
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kenneth M Williams
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Timothy Furlong
- Department of Nephrology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Macdonald
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jerry R Greenfield
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Metabolic Research, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Felicity C Smith
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gina Chowdhury
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard O Day
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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