Empagliflozin and Decreased Risk of Nephrolithiasis: A Potential New Role for SGLT2 Inhibition?

Empagliflozin reduces renal calcium oxalate deposition in hyperoxaluria rats induced with ethylene glycol-ammonium chloride

A retrospective study reported that empagliflozin reduced the risk of urinary stone events in patients with diabetes mellitus. To further investigate empagliflozin's potential, we conducted an animal experiment to determine whether empagliflozin can prevent renal stone formation in hyperoxaluria rats. Hyperoxaluria rat models were constructed by administrating 0.75 % ethylene glycol and 1 % ammonium chloride in water. The empagliflozin-treated rats were gauged with empagliflozin at different concentrations, and their body weight and blood sugar data were recorded. After 30 days of treatment, we obtained 24-h urine, kidney, and blood samples. The urine samples were subjected to component detection. Blood samples were prepared for component detection and cytokines detection. Renal samples were subjected to von Kossa staining, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and transcriptome sequencing analysis. Results showed that in empagliflozin-treated hyperoxaluria rats, renal crystal deposition and mitochondria injury, urinary concentration, and excretion of oxalate were significantly decreased. Additionally, plasma levels of VEGF, IL-2, IL-1β, and MCP-1 were decreased. Immunohistochemistry showed that renal expression of KIM-1, MCP-1 was significantly decreased in empagliflozin-treated hyperoxaluria rats. Transcriptome sequencing of renal tissue represented that 25 genes were down-regulated while 12 were up-regulated in empagliflozin-treated hyperoxaluria rats. These regulated genes were mainly enriched in fatty acid metabolism, insulin resistance, muscle contraction, bile secretion, and parathyroid metabolism. Our animal experiments found that empagliflozin could reduce urinary concentration and excretion of oxalate and inhibit renal inflammation, then abating renal calcium oxalate deposition in hyperoxaluria rats in a non-diabetic state.

Is There a Role for SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of mortality in the dialysis population. Conventional therapies, such as statins, blood pressure control, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, have inadequately addressed this cardiovascular risk, highlighting the unmet need for effective treatment strategies. Sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated significant renal and cardiovascular benefits among patients with type 2 diabetes, heart failure, or CKD at risk of progression. Unfortunately, efficacy data in dialysis patients is lacking as ESKD was an exclusion criterion for all major clinical trials of SGLT2 inhibitors. This review explores the potential of SGLT2 inhibitors in improving cardiovascular outcomes among patients with ESKD, focusing on their direct cardiac effects.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent clinical and preclinical studies have shown promising data for the application of SGLT2 inhibitors to the dialysis population. SGLT2 inhibitors may provide cardiovascular benefits to dialysis patients, not only indirectly by preserving the remaining kidney function and improving anemia but also directly by lowering intracellular sodium and calcium levels, reducing inflammation, regulating autophagy, and alleviating oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress within cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. This review examines the current clinical evidence and experimental data supporting the use of SGLT2 inhibitors, discusses its potential safety concerns, and outlines ongoing clinical trials in the dialysis population. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitor use among patients with ESKD.

Comparative effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for recurrent nephrolithiasis among patients with pre-existing nephrolithiasis or gout: target trial emulation studies

OBJECTIVE

To emulate target trials comparing recurrence of nephrolithiasis among patients with pre-existing nephrolithiasis (overall and stratified by concomitant gout) initiating sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors versus an active comparator.

DESIGN

Target trial emulation studies.

SETTING

Canadian population database, January 2014 to June 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

20 146 patients with nephrolithiasis and type 2 diabetes, including those with concomitant gout at baseline, a high risk group.

INTERVENTIONS

Initiation of an SGLT-2 inhibitor or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor as alternative comparator.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was recurrent nephrolithiasis events ascertained from diagnoses during emergency department visits, hospital admissions, or outpatient visits. Secondary outcomes included nephrolithiasis resulting in hospital admission or emergency department visits and flare-up of gout, as well as a positive control outcome (genital infection) and negative control outcomes (osteoarthritis encounter and appendicitis). Poisson and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used (primary analyses), as well as overlap weighting.

RESULTS

After inverse probability of treatment weighting, 1924 recurrent nephrolithiasis events occurred among the 14 456 weighted patients who used an SGLT-2 inhibitor (105.3 per 1000 person years), compared with 853 events among the 5877 weighted patients who used a GLP-1 receptor agonist (156.4 per 1000 person years). The adjusted rate ratio was 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 to 0.79) and rate difference was -51 (95% CI -63 to -40) per 1000 person years, with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 20. Among those with recently active nephrolithiasis, the absolute rate difference was 219 per 1000 person years (NNT of 5). Protective associations persisted for nephrolithiasis events that required emergency department visits, hospital admissions, or procedures, and when an SGLT-2 inhibitor was compared with a DPP-4 inhibitor (rate ratio 0.73 (0.68 to 0.78), rate difference -38 (-46 to -29) per 1000 person years (NNT of 26)). Protective associations also persisted among patients with nephrolithiasis and concomitant gout, with a rate ratio of 0.67 (0.57 to 0.79) and rate difference of -53 (95% CI -78 to -27) per 1000 person years versus a GLP-1 receptor agonist (NNT of 19), and 0.63 (0.55 to 0.72) and-62 (-81 to -42) per 1000 person years, respectively, versus a DPP-4 inhibitor (NNT of 16). Furthermore, SGLT-2 inhibitor use was associated with a lower rate of gout flare-ups (rate ratio 0.72, 0.54 to 0.95, rate difference -16, -31 to -1 per 1000 person years) compared with GLP-1 receptor agonists (0.65, 0.52 to 0.82, and -21, -33 to -9 per 1000 person years) compared with DPP-4 inhibitors. SGLT-2 inhibitor initiators showed higher risk of genital infection (eg, hazard ratio 2.21, 95% CI 1.68 to 2.90, and rate difference 13 per 1000 person years), but no altered risk of osteoarthritis encounter (0.87, 0.68 to 1.1, and -2 per 1000 person years) or appendicitis (1.07, 0.69 to 1.67, and 1 per 1000 person years). Results were similar when propensity score overlap weighting was applied.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits associated with SGLT-2 inhibitor for patients with nephrolithiasis in these target trial emulations suggest they may be a useful addition to current treatments to simultaneously manage nephrolithiasis recurrence and comorbidities, including gout.

SGLT2 Inhibitors and Their Effect on Urolithiasis: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Urolithiasis (UL) is increasingly prevalent due to rising cardiorenometabolic diseases, posing significant management challenges despite advances in urological techniques. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, primarily used for type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure, have emerged as a potential novel approach for UL treatment. These inhibitors may help reduce the risk of urolithiasis, particularly in patients with diabetes, by improving glycemic control and altering urinary chemistry, which are crucial factors in stone formation. However, the changes in urinary composition induced by SGLT2 inhibitors might also increase the risk of uric acid stone formation. This review evaluates the potential of SGLT2 inhibitors in managing UL, highlighting both the benefits and the risks. While these inhibitors show promise in reducing new and recurrent urinary stones in patients with diabetes, data on their effects in patients without diabetes who form stones are limited. Current human evidence largely comes from post hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and large-scale database studies, with only one study providing detailed stone composition data. Experimental studies in animal models and cell lines have focused on calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones, showing that SGLT2 inhibitors specifically target CaOx stone formation and related renal inflammation. Although primarily studied for CaOx stones, their potential impact on other calcium-containing stones, such as calcium phosphate, remains promising. Further research is needed to explore their therapeutic potential and optimize treatment strategies.

SGLT-2 inhibitors and nephrolithiasis risk: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors are novel anti-diabetic medications with potential beneficial effects on cardiovascular and renal outcomes, metabolic parameters, and body weight. In addition to the beneficial effects on renal functions, including estimated glomerular filtration rate and reduction in proteinuria, recent studies have investigated the potential role of SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy on nephrolithiasis development. Nephrolithiasis, a condition affecting almost 10% of the general population at least once during a lifetime, is a common disorder with considerable risk for acute and chronic kidney injury and relatively few effective therapeutic options.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have performed a literature search through multiple databases, including PubMed, Ovid/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. We have followed the systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.We have included a total of 11 635 698 patients who experienced nephrolithiasis from six clinical trials to conduct this meta-analysis study. In the pooled analysis, nephrolithiasis occurred in 1,27% of patients from the SGLT2i group (n = 739 197), compared to 1,56% of patients (n = 10 896 501) from the control arm (active control, placebo or no therapy).

RESULTS

We have included a total of 11 635 698 participants who experienced nephrolithiasis from a total of six clinical studies with nephrolithiasis rates of 1,27% in the SGLT2i group (n = 739 197), compared to 1,56% in the control arm (n = 10 896 501). SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy has been associated with a lower risk for nephrolithiasis compared to placebo (OR 0.61, 95% CI, 0.53-0.70, p < 0.00001) or active therapy such as glucagon-like peptide 1 and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (OR 0.66, 95% CI, 0.47-0.93, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated a lower risk of nephrolithiasis risk with SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy compared to placebo or active control. Potential underlying mechanisms include osmotic diuresis leading to a reduction in the concentration of lithogenic substances, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, and an increase in urine pH. There is a clear need for future large-scale randomized clinical trials evaluating such associations for better understanding.

Applications of SGLT2 inhibitors beyond glycaemic control

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were initially developed for their glucose-lowering effects and have shown a modest glycaemic benefit in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the past decade, a series of large, robust clinical trials of these therapies have demonstrated striking beneficial effects for various care goals, transforming the chronic disease therapeutic landscape. Cardiovascular safety studies in people with T2DM demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure. Subsequent trials in participants with heart failure with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors have beneficial effects on heart failure outcomes. In dedicated kidney outcome studies, SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the incidence of kidney failure among participants with or without diabetes. Post hoc analyses have suggested a range of other benefits of these drugs in conditions as diverse as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, kidney stone prevention and anaemia. SGLT2 inhibitors have a generally favourable adverse effect profile, although patient selection and medication counselling remain important. Concerted efforts are needed to better integrate these agents into routine care and support long-term medication adherence to close the gap between clinical trial outcomes and those achieved in the real world.

SGLT2 Inhibitor Use for Treatment of Hypocitraturia in a Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis

5-Amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) is a known culprit for the development of tubulointerstitial nephritis. Together with impaired kidney function, tubulointerstitial nephritis can lead to specific tubular malfunctions including distal renal tubular acidosis. Distal renal tubular acidosis is an acid-base disorder in which acid secretion in the distal part of the renal tubular system is decreased. Patients with distal renal tubular acidosis are predisposed to recurrently form calcium phosphate kidney stones. This results from the inability to acidify the urine properly as well as from a decreased citrate concentration in the urine, which is another pathognomonic feature of distal renal tubular acidosis. We present the case of a man in his late 40s with Crohn's disease who developed tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with 5-ASA leading to the development of distal renal tubular acidosis and recurrent calcium phosphate nephrolithiasis. After steroid therapy and partial recovery of kidney function, we observed an increase of citraturia in response to treatment with dapagliflozin, potentially indicating beneficial effects of sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition on the recurrence of calcium phosphate stone disease in interstitial nephritis-induced distal tubular acidosis.

Sodium-glucose cotranspor ter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in nephrolithiasis: should we "gliflozin" patients with kidney stone disease?

The prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing worldwide. Despite advances in understanding the pathogenesis of lithiasis, few studies have demonstrated that specific clinical interventions reduce the recurrence of nephrolithiasis. The aim of this review is to analyze the current data and potential effects of iSGLT2 in lithogenesis and try to answer the question: Should we also "gliflozin" our patients with kidney stone disease?

Related factors of perioperative low body temperature and incidence of postoperative shivering in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy and the effect analysis of composite insulation nursing intervention

This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering rates in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and investigate the effects of combined insulation nursing intervention. A total of 168 patients were included, with 103 patients in the control (Ctrl) group receiving routine care and 65 patients in the nursing (Nur) group receiving combined insulation nursing intervention measures. General information, surgical data, temperature, intraoperative hypothermia incidence, postoperative shivering, and complication rates were statistically analyzed between the two groups. Patient temperature, blood pressure, and blood gas indicators including pH value, bicarbonate, and lactate levels were recorded at admission (T0), before anesthesia (T1), 30 min after spinal-epidural combined anesthesia (T2), 60 min (T3), 90 min (T4), 120 min (T5), and postoperatively (T6). The results demonstrated that the average intraoperative temperature of patients in the Nur group was significantly higher than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.001), and their incidence of hypothermia was significantly lower than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the Nur group exhibited shorter recovery time (18.36 ± 3.58 min), extubation time (28.01 ± 3.12 min), and length of hospital stay (8.45 ± 2.14 days) compared to the Ctrl group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative shivering was 4.62 %, significantly lower than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.001). Multifactorial analysis revealed that age ≥60 years, stone diameter ≥3.0 cm, irrigation volume ≥3000 mL, nursing intervention measures, and surgical duration were the main factors influencing the occurrence of intraoperative hypothermia. Age ≥60 years, nursing intervention measures, surgical duration, and intraoperative temperature<36 °C are identified as major risk factors for postoperative shivering. This indicates that specialized nursing care and combined insulation nursing intervention measures in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy contribute to reducing the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering. It is recommended to promptly address the risk factors associated with hypothermia and shivering during and after surgery to mitigate the risk of perioperative complications.

Current Dietary and Medical Prevention of Renal Calcium Oxalate Stones

Kidney stones refer to abnormal crystal formation that occurs in the kidney. Among a variety of components of kidney stones, calcium oxalate (CaOx) is the most common type. Despite many efforts to investigate the pathogenesis of CaOx stones, the pathogenesis remains an issue of debate. With high occurrence and recurrence, individuals with stone formation are prone to frequently consult a doctor and to be hospitalized, and the treatment of kidney stones poses a heavy burden on the patients. Concerns should be focused not only on treatment but also on prevention. Herein, we reviewed the studies on prevention methods of CaOx stones through diet, lifestyle, and medication extending until the current time frame. As hyperoxaluria is the most common metabolic disorder among CaOx stone formations, we also included several studies on the treatment and prevention of hyperoxaluria. Our objective was to outline the effective methods to prevent renal CaOx stone formation.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Nephrolithiasis Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Importance

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of kidney stones. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) might lower the risk of nephrolithiasis by altering urine composition. However, no studies have investigated the association between SGLT2i use and nephrolithiasis risk in patients receiving routine care in the US.

Objective

To investigate the association between SGLT2i use and nephrolithiasis risk in clinical practice.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This new-user, active comparator cohort study used data from commercially insured adults (aged ≥18 years) with T2D who initiated treatment with SGLT2is, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4is) between April 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020. The data were analyzed from July 2021 through June 2023.

Exposure

New initiation of an SGLT2i, GLP-1RA, or DPP4i.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was nephrolithiasis diagnosed by International Classification of Diseases codes in the inpatient or outpatient setting. New SGLT2i users were 1:1 propensity score matched to new users of a GLP-1RA or DPP4i in pairwise comparisons. Incidence rates, rate differences (RDs), and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were calculated.

Results

After 1:1 propensity score matching, a total of 716 406 adults with T2D (358 203 pairs) initiating an SGLT2i or a GLP-1RA (mean [SD] age, 61.4 [9.7] years for both groups; 51.4% vs 51.2% female; 48.6% vs 48.5% male) and 662 056 adults (331 028 pairs) initiating an SGLT2i or a DPP4i (mean [SD] age, 61.8 [9.3] vs 61.7 [10.1] years; 47.4% vs 47.3% female; 52.6% vs 52.7% male) were included. Over a median follow-up of 192 (IQR, 88-409) days, the risk of nephrolithiasis was lower in patients initiating an SGLT2i than among those initiating a GLP-1RA (14.9 vs 21.3 events per 1000 person-years; HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.67-0.72]; RD, -6.4 [95% CI, -7.1 to -5.7]) or a DPP4i (14.6 vs 19.9 events per 1000 person-years; HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.71-0.77]; RD, -5.3 [95% CI, -6.0 to -4.6]). The association between SGLT2i use and nephrolithiasis risk was similar by sex, race and ethnicity, history of chronic kidney disease, and obesity. The magnitude of the risk reduction with SGLT2i use was larger among adults aged younger than 70 years vs aged 70 years or older (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.79-0.91]; RD, -3.46 [95% CI, -4.87 to -2.05] per 1000 person-years; P for interaction <.001).

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that in adults with T2D, SGLT2i use may lower the risk of nephrolithiasis compared with GLP-1RAs or DPP4is and could help to inform decision-making when prescribing glucose-lowering agents for patients who may be at risk for developing nephrolithiasis.

Knowledge domain and emerging trends in empagliflozin for heart failure: A bibliometric and visualized analysis

Objective

Empagliflozin (EMPA), a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), is recommended for all patients with Heart failure (HF) to reduce the risk of Cardiovascular death, hospitalization, and HF exacerbation. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation was conducted by searching relevant literatures of EMPA for Heart Failure from 2013 to 2022, and visual analysis in this field was conducted.

Methods

The data were from the Web of Science Core Collection database (WOSCC). The bibliometric tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, were used for econometric analysis to probe the evolvement of disciplines and research hotspots in the field of EMPA for Heart Failure.

Results

A total of 1461 literatures with 43861 references about EMPA for Heart Failure in the decade were extracted from WOSCC, and the number of manuscripts were on a rise. In the terms of co-authorship, USA leads the field in research maturity and exerts a crucial role in the field of EMPA for Heart Failure. Multidisciplinary research is conducive to future development. With regards to literatures, we obtained 9 hot paper, 93 highly cited literatures, and 10 co-cited references. The current research focuses on the following three aspects: EMPA improves left ventricular remodeling, exert renal protection, and increases heart rate variability.

Conclusion

Based on methods such as bibliometrics, citation analysis and knowledge graph, this study analyzed the current situation and trend of EMPA for Heart Failure, sorted out the knowledge context in this field, and provided reference for current and future prevention and scientific research.

A Description of Acute Renal Failure and Nephrolithiasis Associated With Sodium–Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitor Use: A VigiBase Study

Background: The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on the risk of acute kidney injury and a signal of nephrolithiasis for patients using sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). We performed a descriptive analysis on acute renal failure (ARF) and nephrolithiasis cases reported to SGLT2i in the VigiBase^®, in the scope of characterizing the patients and reactions and to report on the disproportionality analysis.

Methods: We analyzed all ARF and nephrolithiasis reports for SGLT2i in VigiBase from inception to September 2021. ARF cases were defined as reports containing at least one of the preferred terms (PTs) included in the ARF narrow Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Standardised Queries (MedDRA SMQ). SGLT2i exposure was considered for reports with at least one gliflozin as a suspected/interacting drug. We characterized the patients, reporters, and reactions, and we present the proportional reporting ratio (PRR).

Results: Of 27,370,413 total reports in VigiBase, we found 3,972 ARF reactions to gliflozins as suspected/interacting drugs in 3,751 patients and 231 nephrolithiasis reactions in 227 patients. Most cases were reported from American regions (3057; 81.49%), for patients of age group 45–64 years (1590; 59%). About 30% (1156) of the ARF reports were registered in 2018, most from spontaneous reporting, and from consumers followed by healthcare professionals (2,235; 61% and 1440; 38%, respectively). Canagliflozin was the most involved gliflozin in the ARF and nephrolithiasis cases (2,640; 67% and 109; 47%, respectively). The great majority of ARF and nephrolithiasis reports were serious (3,761; 95% and 182; 79%, respectively). Of the total ARF cases reported, 51 had fatal outcome, while 152 had not recovered/not resolved outcome. No fatal outcome was reported for nephrolithiasis. Disproportionality analysis in full database showed a PRR of 4.68 (95% CI 4.53–4.83) for all gliflozins–ARF and a PRR of 3.44 (95% CI 3.00–3.95) for all gliflozins–nephrolithiasis.

Conclusion: Most of ARF reports associated with gliflozins were serious, with an important number of cases with fatal outcome. A drug safety signal was found between ARF narrow SMQ and gliflozins. Also, gliflozins were associated with an increase in the proportion of nephrolithiasis reports compared to other medications.